by Mike Knaak
editor@thenewsleaders.com
St. Cloud school district schools will begin the year in a hybrid learning model, Superintendent Will Jett announced at the school board’s Aug. 5 meeting.
The hybrid plan is one of three scenarios that school districts planned for at the direction of the Department of Education.
Based on grade level, students will be assigned to attend on Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday.
Kindergarten through second-grade students, and some students receiving special education and English language instruction, will attend school in-person, four days each week with the safety protocols and social distancing required under the state’s hybrid model.
All students will have distance learning on Fridays.
St. Joseph area students generally attend the St. Cloud district’s Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph for kindergartent through eighth grade and high school students attend Apollo in St. Cloud
Jett made the decision to align with Gov. Tim Walz’s Safe Learning Plan, current local health data and feedback gathered from staff, families and students.
Students also have the opportunity to enroll in the St. Cloud Area Schools Distance Learning Academy, a year-long distance learning option
The superintendent said the district will review community health data provided by the state every two weeks to ensure meeting the state guidelines
If community health data requires it, the district will switch to a more restrictive learning plan.
All three learning models – in-person, hybrid, and distance learning – will provide academic rigor and routines, and opportunities for meaningful social-emotional connections, the district said in a statement released after the school board meeting.
