by Mike Knaak
news@thenewsleaders.com
Sartell middle and high school students will return to in-person learning on Monday, Feb. 8, the district announced Thursday, Jan. 28.
To prepare for the switch from the hybrid learning model, there will be no school for students in grades six through 12 on Friday, Feb. 5.
The district’s younger students returned to in-person learning Jan. 11, and this will continue.
In an announcement to parents, the district said “the decision to bring our six-12 students back to in-person learning follows CDC guidelines and was made in consultation with local medical providers, Stearns County Public Health and the Minnesota Department of Health. Evolving research and data reveals transmission in school is rare. In Sartell-St. Stephen we have experienced a low to nonexistent transmission rate in our classrooms. Research also shows mitigation strategies are directly tied to these results (face masks, social distancing to the extent possible, maintaining pods for students to the extent possible and sanitization).”
District administrators also reported nearly all staff who wanted the COVID-19 vaccine received their first dose last week from CentraCare. Second doses will be given the week of Feb. 15.
For parents who want to request a change in the learning model for sixth- through 12th-graders, the next opportunity will be the beginning of fourth quarter on April 6. Fourth quarter requests for a shift must be submitted in writing to the building principal by March 12.
Starting Monday, Feb. 8, food service will no longer be offering daily meal pick up at Sartell High School and Sartell Middle School. Free breakfast and lunch meals will be available to students daily on-site at each school building.
For additional information, visit the district’s COVID-19 webpage at www.sartell.k12.mn.us/COVID19_coronavirus.
