by Mike Knaak
The three St. Cloud area school districts have banned visitors and canceled public events as a part of list of measures taken after a reported case of Covid-19 in Stearns County.
Superintendents from Sartell-St. Stephen school district, St. Cloud school district and Sauk Rapids-Rice school district announced a list of protocols that will be in place in all three districts until further notice.
The new measures are:
*For the safety of students, staff and community, only district personnel (those on payroll and contracted partners) are permitted inside district schools. Visitors and volunteers will not be admitted to schools.
*Beginning and end-of-day routines allowing families into the school to drop off or pick up students will remain the same, but other family visits during the school day will be limited to scheduled school business.
*Public health officials have advised limiting large gatherings of people. In response, all school-sponsored public and family events and activities will be canceled until further notice. Middle and high school practices for activities and athletics, however, are considered an extension of the school day and will continue as scheduled.
*All field trips and school sponsored travel will be suspended.
*Community education classes will be canceled, and fees will be refunded when applicable.
*Use of district facilities by external organizations and community groups will be limited to practices only.
*Students who have been exposed to a diagnosed case of Covic-19 must communicate with school administration prior to returning to school.
*Students who have symptoms consistent with Covid-19, or who are diagnosed with Covid-19, or who have a household member who is diagnosed with Covid-19 should not report to school and must notify the school office of the student’s condition.
*Parents must notify the school office if their student is not in attendance as a precautionary action related to Covid-19.
*Staff members who have been exposed to a diagnosed case of Covid-19 must notify Human Resources prior to returning to work.
*Staff members who have symptoms consistent with Covid-19, or who are diagnosed with Covid-19, or who have a household member who is diagnosed with Covid-19 should not report to work and must notify the Human Resources Office of their status.
