Back to School 2020-2021

ISD 728 will take direction from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) involving COVID-19. ISD 728 has primary responsibility for the health and safety of its students and employees in school. Therefore, ISD 728 will react swiftly and decisively to assure the good health and safety of those individuals if the need arises.

This plan for addressing any COVID-19 incident is intended to serve the best interests of students, employees and families in the remote event of an incidence or threat of the Coronavirus infecting an Independent School District (ISD) 728 student, employee, volunteer or a family member.

District and school teams continue to work on a variety of plans for a safe return to school in fall 2020. This page will be updated as plans and state guidance evolve.

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LATEST NEWS

COVID-19 Rates in Wright County Increase, Possibly Impacting Instructional Model at Three Schools
ISD 728 officials continue to work closely with public health officials to monitor COVID-19 trends and rates.

Wright County Data
As of September 10, 2020, Wright County was at 20.11 COVID-19 cases per 10,000 people over the last two weeks, up from 16.35 last week. Although this number crosses a threshold from Level 2 to Level 3 in the structure of case ranges and associated learning models established by the state (see the table on Page 1 of the Stay Safe MN Plan), no determination to change our learning model has been made at this time based on consultation with public health officials.

County case numbers – released each Thursday – are just the starting point for determining which learning models are in use (i.e. face-to-face, hybrid, distance learning). Now that school is in session, there are many more factors that come into play when determining a learning model, and a single week’s data point will not necessarily drive an immediate shift in learning models.

Wright County Public Health officials are currently consulting with the Minnesota Department of Health on other factors such as local school and community transmission. According to Wright County data, the case numbers have not shifted significantly since last week, and we have not yet had any positive cases confirmed among our student or staff populations in any Wright County school within ISD 728.

While the increased COVID-19 rates in Wright County could require Hassan, Prairie View, and Otsego Elementary to move from a face-to-face model to a hybrid model, it would not impact other ISD 728 schools. Other ISD 728 schools are located in and/or have students from different counties, or there is a different case rate threshold, such as those for secondary students.

Resources
For a list of cities within Wright County, please visit: www.co.wright.mn.us/250/Cities-Townships.

For overall case trends by county, please visit here.

Process and Timeline Involving Hassan, Otsego, and Prairie View Elementary Schools
If ISD 728 was to make a change to the learning model and move elementary schools serving students in or from Wright County (Hassan, Otsego and Prairie View) from a face-to-face model to hybrid, here is what the process and timeline would look like:
1. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends all school districts utilize three weekly data points before transitioning from one instructional model to another, as this could constitute a trend. ISD 728 officials would use data posted on September 10, 17, and 24, 2020.
  - If all three data points were above the Department of Health guidelines (20), parents would be notified September 25, 2020 that the District would be transitioning from face-to-face to hybrid in those three schools (effective October 7, 2020).
  - After each data point is posted (September 10, 17, and 24), the District will send a communication to students, families, and staff about current COVID rates, trends, and possible next steps.
  - Each county and the Minnesota Department of Health publish COVID-19 rates on their websites, which often include the number of cases by city, zip code, and/or county. ISD 728 uses these websites to gather information and ultimately to make decisions in consultation with each public health official. If community members are interested in reviewing data, they are encouraged to also use data published on each county and/or the Minnesota Department of Health website.
2. If elementary students in these schools transitioned to a hybrid model, students would come to school (face-to-face) the week of September 28, 2020 (through Oct. 2).
3. In this case, there would be no school for students at Hassan, Otsego, and Prairie View Elementary School on Monday or Tuesday, October 5 and 6, 2020 to allow for planning.
4. The hybrid model would begin for Hassan, Otsego and Prairie View students on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 (A Group). B Group would come to school on Thursday, October 8, 2020.
5. All elementary students in the hybrid model at Hassan, Otsego, and Prairie View Elementary School would receive distance learning every Friday, including Friday, October 9, 2020 and not be on site. This is the same model currently happening in all ISD 728 middle and high schools.
6. Hassan, Otsego, and Prairie View elementary students would be able to return to school in a face-to-face model when three weekly data points indicated it was safe to do so in accordance with the Stay Safe MN Plan.
Note: If there was a unique circumstance (i.e. outbreak at a specific school, not sufficient staffing, etc.), the District would also consider a transition, which could be done by classroom, school, county or district.

Please make sure your family has a plan in case a change in learning models must occur.

Thank you for being part of ISD 728, we will continue to work with public health officials and to implement plans that provide a safe environment in accordance with recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Free Meals Returning for ISD 728 Students
ISD 728 has qualified for an extension of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Minnesota Department of Education’s free meal program for all currently enrolled ISD 728 students. This free meal service, which offers breakfast and lunch daily, starts Wednesday, September 16, 2020.

In other words - Grab-n-Go is BACK!

The USDA has extended this waiver to assist school districts and households in feeding kids. This benefit has been extended until Federal funds are no longer available. Once the waiver ends, all students will automatically be returned back to their normal lunch status. We will inform households when this will happen as soon as we are notified. This USDA sponsored free meal program is for all currently enrolled ISD 728 students regardless of whether they are participating in face to face, hybrid or distance learning models.

Students Participating in Face-to-Face Model
The free meal program will begin with cafeteria service on September 16, 2020 for all on-campus students.

Students Participating in the Hybrid or Distance Learning Model
The ‘Grab-n-Go’ meal program will start on Wednesday, September 16, 2020. Meals may be picked up from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. – Monday through Friday at the locations listed below. ISD 728 families can pick up their child’s meal at any of the locations listed.

Meal Pick-Up Locations
- Elk River High School
  - 900 School Street, Elk River
  - Door F, located at the back of the building, off Jackson Avenue
- Rogers High School
  - 21000 141st Avenue, Rogers
  - Door 10, located near the main entrance towards the end of the circle drive
- Zimmerman Middle/High School
  - 25900 4th Street W, Zimmerman
  - Door 10, located at the back of the building
Menus
Menus are located on the ISD 728 website, but are subject to change based on item availability. In some instances, warm meals (aka “hot lunch”) will need to be served. In these cases, the meal should be consumed immediately or families will need to utilize reheating instructions provided by food service staff. Allergens will be located on the Nutrition Services page of the District website, whenever possible.

At this time, this is the only means of meal distribution for Grab-n-Go. Due to food safety concerns, sending meals home with students – those in hybrid or in-person learning – is not available.

Due to the timing of the USDA announcement and the application process required for the free meal program, the District did officially begin the school year under the National School Lunch Program and therefore the District will be unable to provide refunds for meals served through September 15, 2020 as we were not yet able to provide the Grab-n-Go, USDA sponsored free program to all students.

Last, but not least, this is a friendly reminder to complete your free/reduced meal application for this school year if you have NOT done so already. Even though meals are currently free, they will not always be. The application also helps our district qualify for additional funding. It is essential that every household, that may qualify, fills out the application, even if you are currently distance learning. This will make the transition back to a typical meal service easier for families once the Federal and State government announce a change. Applications can be completed online through Parent Portal.

If you have questions regarding Grab-n-Go meal service, please contact Michelle Jones at michelle.jones@isd728.org
August 21, 2020: Back to School Announcement
Dear Students, Staff, Parents and Community Members:

Thank you for your continued support and engagement, we are proud to work with you as we navigate the pandemic and provide quality opportunities for our children. After much work and collaboration, we are proud to announce that we will be able to begin the 2020-2021 school year in:
- FACE-TO-FACE MODEL for early childhood and elementary students
- HYBRID MODEL for middle and high school students
These models, which will be implemented throughout the school district, are supported by the local data, public health officials, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health.

Early Childhood and Elementary School Students

ISD 728 plans to reopen and welcome all early childhood and elementary students back into our classrooms for the 2020-2021 school year Monday through Friday, beginning Tuesday, September 8, 2020. However, we will be routinely reminding our students, staff, and families to be mindful of key preventive measures.

Middle and High School Students (Secondary)

ISD 728 plans to reopen and welcome all middle and high school students back into our classrooms for the 2020-2021 school year in the so-called “hybrid model,” which will limit the overall number of people in school facilities and on transportation to 50 percent maximum occupancy. Social distancing with at least six (6) feet between people must occur at all times, and this model will serve as a bridge, we hope, to eventual in-person learning.

In this model, middle and high school students will participate in a two-day in-person model, with three days of distance learning per week on dates those students are not in our buildings. Hybrid model assignments for A/B schedules for each student will be announced via CAMPUS messenger no later than August 31, 2020.

In addition to information above, the video below provides information about the communication that was sent out Monday with details about our instructional models, health screening and expectations, a reminder to view the District website for up-to-date information, and questions to some of the most commonly asked questions.

The past several months have been an incredibly challenging time for the entire ISD 728 community. I want to thank you for your patience, support, and engagement along the way. We look forward to another exciting year, and remain committed to our values, mission, and vision.

Sincerely,
Dan Bittman
ISD 728 Superintendent
2020-2021 Back to School Plan

ISD 728 Families, Students and Staff:

Independent School District 728 is excited to enter the 2020-2021 academic year with a back to school plan that will deliver on our District’s mission and vision to educate, inspire and empower our more than 14,000 students.

The plan, available at www.isd728.org/Back-To-School-Plan, provides information about the three state mandated instructional models (i.e. face-to-face, hybrid, distance learning), as well as details of the 100% Distance Learning Option our district has been developing since the COVID-19 pandemic impacted our students, families and staff last spring.

These three learning models, as well as the District’s 100% Distance Learning Option, have been designed to keep safety as our top priority for all, to deliver on our state-leading academic achievement, to honor student, family, and staff feedback and choice, and to provide as much flexibility as possible.

We fully expect to utilize all of these models throughout the year and will base future decisions on local data, as well as guidance from the Department of Education and Department of Health. As of this communication, we anticipate that the school year will start with Early Childhood and Elementary students attending everyday face-to-face and Middle and High School students attending in our Hybrid model.

On August 21, 2020, the official learning model to start the 2020-2021 school year will be announced.

If you have any questions, please use the contact information outlined in the document at any time. We appreciate your support of ISD 728, and we look forward to achieving many great things together this school year.

Sincerely,
Dr. Daniel Bittman
ISD 728 Superintendent

Click graphic below to view the ISD 728 Back to School Plan

IMPORTANT DATES

October 30, 2020

First day to opt in or continue the 100% Distance Learning Option
November 6, 2020

Last day to opt in or continue the 100% Distance Learning Option

View Calendar

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

COVID-19 Attendance Guide for Parents and Families

Staying home when you are sick is one of our best ways to fight COVID-19. Keeping sick children and children who are exposed to COVID-19 away from others helps stop the spread of the virus to other children, staff, and the surrounding community. Parents and guardians can use this guide to understand when their child can attend school, youth programs, and child care during COVID-19.

COVID-19 Attendance Guide for Parents and Families »

School Self-Screening Checklist

ISD 728 Families: Please evaluate your child daily for the following symptoms before sending to school.
You can download a pdf version of the checklist here.

Screening Symptoms These symptoms indicate a possible illness that may decrease students’ ability to learn and put them at risk for spreading illness to others.
If your child is experiencing one of these symptoms listed below, they should stay home:
NEW onset cough or worsening cough (for students with chronic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline) Difficulty breathing Temperature of 100.4⁰ F or higher New loss of taste or smell
If your child is experiencing two (2) of these symptoms, they should stay home:
Chills Sore throat Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea	Excessive Fatigue New onset of nasal congestion or runny nose New onset of severe headache Body aches / muscle pain
If your child has been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, they should stay home.

If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms as defined above, has been a close contact, or has had a positive COVID-19 test call the attendance line at (763) 241-3555 and list these specific symptoms that your child is experiencing.

Parent Guidance for the 2020-2021 School Year
Food Service
The District food service program is ready to welcome students back to school. Menus for lunch and breakfast are available at www.isd728.org/menus or through the Nutrislice app. Please select the appropriate school and meal to view the options.

Meal Prices
- Elementary Breakfast: $1.35
- Elementary Lunch: $2.95
- Secondary Breakfast: $1.45
- Secondary Lunch: $3.05
Infinite Campus Food Service
ISD 728 is excited to introduce Infinite Campus Food Service for the 2020-2021 School Year. Infinite Campus Food Service replaces PayPams meal payment system. With this change, student meal payments and purchases will be included in the same system families currently use for grades, course and school fees, bus routes, report cards, schedules and attendance.

In Campus Parent Portal you can:
1. View meal account balances
2. View cafeteria purchases
3. View payment history
4. Receive email notifications when your student’s lunch account balance is low
5. Make payments directly into a student meal account
6. Setup recurring payments
Please Note: There is no cost for using this system.

Need more information?
Visit www.isd728.org/Meal-Payment.

Breakfast Available for ISD 728 Students
In addition to a nutritious lunch, ISD 728 also offers breakfast for all students each morning. Breakfast menus are available for each school, via the Nutrislice App or by visiting www.isd728.org/menus. The ISD 728 breakfast menu features a variety of selections, which are served in the school cafeteria. Students who qualify for free or reduced meals, along with all Kindergarten students, can enjoy breakfast each morning FREE of charge. Please view this flyer for more information.

Apply Online for Free and Reduced Meals
Online applications for Free and Reduced Meals are now available for the 2020-2021 school year directly through Infinite Campus Parent Portal. A new form needs to be completed each school year, and you can apply anytime throughout the year if your circumstances change.

To determine eligibility, please login and apply through Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Select “More” and then “Meal Benefits” to begin. The parent/guardian will need to establish an e-signature before submitting the application. This can be accomplished through the step-by-step directions when completing the application. Applications can not be processed until all required information is complete. Student accounts do not have the capability to submit Meal Program Applications.

If you have other questions about Free and Reduced Meals or need assistance, please contact Patti Naugle at patricia.naugle@isd728.org or call (763) 241-3515.

Special Dietary Needs
If your child requires specific dietary needs or you have additional questions, please contact Michelle Jones, Food Service Manager, via email michelle.jones@isd728.org or by phone at (763) 241-3409.

Food Service for Distance/Hybrid Learners
ISD 728 will begin offering the ‘Quick-Pick’ meal service beginning on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 for ISD 728 students who are currently enrolled in Distance Learning or participating in the Hybrid model.

The Quick-Pick meal service:
- Offers breakfast and lunch for ISD 728 Enrolled Students
- MUST be picked up at the location/school that your ISD 728 student is enrolled.
- Is a paid meal service for those who do not qualify for educational meal benefits and a free service to families that qualify for Free/Reduced Educational Meal Benefits.
When picking up ‘Quick-Pick’ meal service, please be prepared to provide the student(s) full name and date of birth. Your student does not need to be present.

At some locations, you may need to exit your car and go to the door to pick-up the student meal.

Please note: This is different from the meal service that was provided last spring.

‘Quick-Pick’ Locations and Times By Area

Rogers/Otsego Area Schools:
- Rogers High School
  21000 141st Ave, Rogers 55374 Main Entrance
  9:00 am - 10:00 am
- Rogers Middle School
  20855 141st Ave, Rogers 55374 | Bus Door
  9:30 am - 10:30 am
- Prairie View Elementary/Middle School
  12220 80th St NE, Otsego 55330 | Main Entrance
  9:30 am - 10:30 am
- Hassan Elementary School
  14055 Orchid Avenue, Rogers 55374 | Door D
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Rogers Elementary School
  12521 Main Street, Rogers 55374 | Door 2
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Otsego Elementary School
  8125 River Rd NE, Otsego 55330 | Main Entrance
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
Elk River Area Schools:
- Elk River High School
  900 School St NW, Elk River 55330 | Door G
  9:00 am - 10:00 am
- VandenBerge Middle School
  948 Proctor Ave NW, Elk River 55330 | Door L
  9:30 am - 10:30 am
- Salk Middle School
  11970 Highland Rd NW, Elk River 55330 | Door T
  9:30 am - 10:30 am
- Lincoln Elementary School
  600 School St, Elk River 55330 | Door 2
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Parker Elementary School
  500 School St, Elk River 55330 | Door 2
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Twin Lakes Elementary School
  10051 191st Ave NW, Elk River 55330 | Door F
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Meadowvale Elementary School
  12701 Elk Lake Rd NW, Elk River 55330 | Door 7
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
Zimmerman Area Schools:
- Zimmerman Middle/High School
  25900 4th St W, Zimmerman 55398 | Bus Door
  9:00 am - 10:00 am
- Westwood Elementary School
  13651 4th Ave S, Zimmerman 55398 | Door 3
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Zimmerman Elementary School
  25959 4th Street West, Zimmerman 55398 | Office
  9:30 am - 10:30 am
Other ISD 728 Programs: (C.O.M.P.A.S.S. Ivan Sand Community High/Middle School)
- Elk River High School
  900 School St NW, Elk River 55330 | Door G
  9:00 am - 10:00 am
‘Quick-Pick’ Menu and Special Dietary Needs
Specific menus for Distance and Hybrid Learners can be found online at isd728.nutrislice.com/menu under the option “Distance Learners.” If your child requires specific dietary needs or you have additional questions, please contact Michelle Jones, Food Service Manager, via email michelle.jones@isd728.org or by phone at (763) 241-3409.
Back to School Parent Portal Information
ISD 728 provides Campus Parent Portal to monitor and participate in the educational process with real-time access to household information, announcements, assignments, attendance, grades, schedules, meal accounts, report cards, fees, payments and more. Parent Portal also allows you to select options for receiving email communications from your schools and connects with other systems like Schoology online student learning. Please note that some information will not be available until the school year begins; student schedules and access to Schoology courses typically are available following school open houses.

Household Contact Information
Please take a moment to login and review your household’s information at www.isd728.org/portal for bussing, family and emergency contact information. For step-by-step instructions visit www.isd728.org/householdupdates. To learn more about using Parent Portal please visit the guide available here.

Your Username is for ISD 728 Parent Apps
Usernames are based on your primary Email Address on file for Campus Parent Portal, Schoology, and most systems. If your regular password is not working, or you have not yet accessed your account, click on the Forgot Password option on the login screen to set your password through your email (employees check their @isd728.org email).

Transportation Details in Parent Portal
Bus routes, bus stop locations, and pick-up and drop-off addresses are available in Parent Portal starting, August 26, 2020. Please ensure that the information for your pick-up and drop-off location address is correct. Split households or those with pre-arranged transportation circumstances may not be shown in Parent Portal. If you require a change from what is listed, please complete an Online Transportation Form and submit it immediately.

Students will continue to be routed up until the first day of school, so please check Parent Portal after 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2020 to confirm your information for the first day of school.

Day Rotation & Distance Learning Details in Parent Portal (new this year)
Assigned Day Rotation and 100% Distance Learning Option confirmation is available for Grades K-12 students starting today, August 26, 2020. Early Childhood information will be communicated next week. Please review your student’s Hybrid Rotation found in Campus Parent Portal. Use the Menu’s “More” option and choose “Day Rotation”. The Hybrid Rotation area shows your student as either A or B.

Middle and High School students starting school in the Hybrid model will attend school days either as:
- Rotation A - Monday and Wednesday onsite, Tuesday and Thursday offsite distance learning.
- Rotation B - Tuesday and Thursday onsite, Monday and Wednesday offsite distance learning.
Fridays, ALL students will participate in offsite distance learning.

Elementary students starting in-person every school day will also receive a Hybrid designation in the event their school either moves into the Hybrid model after school starts or if the student returns to school in a Hybrid model after participating in 100% Distance Learning.

Please note: due to social distancing requirements and keeping families together, we are not accepting requests for changes to the A/B Day Rotations. Additionally, if your Hybrid Rotation is blank, it means we are still determining the day you will attend. Please check back to find your Hybrid Rotation assignment.

Students who will be participating in the 100% Distance Learning option will also show 100% Distance Learning indicated, while those not participating will only show their Hybrid Rotation information.

Visit www.isd728.org/COVID-19 for more information.

Online Payments Information (new this year, replacing RevTrak and PayPams)
Parent Portal allows you to view your student's assigned school fees and balances. To pay these assigned fees with a credit or debit card, the District now accepts online payments directly through Infinite Campus Parent Portal instead of RevTrak used in prior years. Additionally, school meal account balances and cafeteria purchases are processed through Infinite Campus Parent Portal instead of PayPams, which was used in previous years. Visit www.isd728.org/OnlinePayments for more information.

GoGuardian Parent App (new this year)
Available after your student’s open house date, visit GoGuardain Parent App for information on how parents and guardians can monitor their children's school issued chromebook browsing activity, as well as adjust filtering and internet access when used out of school. Update to the latest app to access these new features, available for the 2020-2021 school year:
- Website Filtering: Allows guardians to block students from accessing specific websites during out of school hours.
- On Demand Internet Pausing: Allow guardians to pause internet access on demand for students during out of school hours.
- Scheduled Internet Pausing: Allow guardians to schedule periods of paused internet access for students during out of school hours.
Schoology Parent Access (Grade 3-12)
Available after your student’s open house date, your grade 3-12 student’s digital classrooms are accessible through a Schoology username, based on the same Email Address shown above. If your password isn’t working, or if this is your first visit, choose the “Forgot your password” link to set up your password. Click to view a step-by-step parent Handout or Video or you can learn more about Schoology here.

Seesaw Family App Access (Grade K-2)
After your open house date, your grade K-2 child's teacher will send you Seesaw parent access information. This parent access will allow you to receive daily class communications and expectations, and allow viewing completed class work. You can learn more about SeeSaw here or by watching this Video.

ParentLink Parent Notification System for School Closings
ParentLink automated notifications are used for urgent district communication, like school cancellations, to notify all parents/guardians. Phone numbers provided in Campus Parent Portal are used when calling the student’s primary household, including cell, other, household and work numbers. Cell phone numbers will be the first number used. If the cell number is not provided or the call is not answered or directed to voicemail, a call will be made to the “other” phone number, then to the household phone, and last the work phone number will be attempted. This helps us contact you as quickly as possible without leaving multiple messages. In the event of an in-school emergency, all phone numbers will be called simultaneously. Text messages and emails will continue to be sent when calls are made. If you prefer not to receive text or email messages, please update your preferences using the www.isd728.org/householdupdates instructions.

Have Questions or Need Help?
Visit our updated Digital Learning@728 resources for video tutorials, handouts and presentations to assist you in navigating these resources.

If your email address has changed or you are unable to login to Campus Parent Portal, please contact us through the Campus Portal Support Request form for assistance.
Student Devices (Chromebooks)
Use the information below to assist your child with accessing their digital classroom tools for the coming 2020-21 school year.

Student Account Information
In order for students to access their digital learning resources for school, students should first login to the My ISD 728 Rapid Portal at https://my.isd728.org and then use the available buttons to access apps. The My ISD 728 Portal is set up to allow students to gain access to many of our classroom digital resources tools by using a single username and password, eliminating the need to remember multiple logins or navigate personal bookmarks.

Student Device Plan (Chromebooks)
Returning Devices to School
As we return to the new school year, students should bring their existing issued devices and hotspots back to their current school, charged and ready to use. This includes students moving between schools such as 5th grade moving into 6th grade. Those signed up for Distance Learning in the new school year can retain their existing device for use at home. Devices that are damaged but usable will continue to be used, to be repaired or replaced later in the school year. This allows schools time to reallocate available devices between buildings. Hotspots can be re-issued where no other internet options are available for out of school use.

Elementary Device Access
Grade K-5 students starting in person will use devices in the classroom and not take them home unless their school switches to hybrid or distance learning later in the school year. Students signed up for distance learning have the option to request a device by following Middle/High School information directly below.

Middle and High School Student Device Plan Sign-Up
New this year, student device agreement forms will not be sent home and collected. Instead parents must use Campus Portal to indicate each of your grade 6-12 student’s device needs by September 1st to help us prepare for return to school. Grade K-5 students do not need a plan at this time, unless signed up for Distance Learning.

Plans can be added in Campus Portal by:
1. Signing into Campus Parent Portal
2. Using the Portal menu’s School Store option.
3. Choosing the student’s school store.
4. Choosing Student Device, and adding the desired plan for the student (repeating these steps for each student).
Options allow for using their existing school device, requesting a device if not already issued one, as well as adding a $15 protection plan or forgoing the protection plan at no cost (paying for any damages incurred). Note: You can only select students in your household and that do not already have a Device Plan signed-up.

Optionally view the example video available at www.isd728.org/Device-Plan to see the sign-up process.

Device Pickup Prior to School Starting
If a grade 6-12 student’s device is no longer in a usable condition, or they do not yet have a device and need one before school starts, device pickup will be available at Elk River High, Rogers High and Zimmerman Middle-High on September 1st and 2nd from 2pm to 7pm. Use the main entrance and follow social distancing practices & signage.

Technology Help
If you are new to caring for a school issued chromebook, review the Quick Start for care & cleaning guidelines as well basic troubleshooting: www.isd728.org/QuickChromebook.
- For help with navigating and using the device, review the Chromebook User Guide
- Schoology and Seesaw Support Resources: www.isd728.org/digitallearning
- Setting up your home learning space? Review these Ergonomic Tips
Support, repair, and replacement options
Need help using class materials or websites?
Please contact your class teacher for help by sending an email or leaving a voicemail. Contact information is available here. They will contact you during school days, it may take a day to hear back.

ChromeDepot Online: Having trouble connecting to wifi? Unable to sign in to my.isd728.org? Other issues? Grade K-5 Parents and Grade 6-12 students or parents can call (763) 241-3490 or visit www.isd728.org/LetsChat for assistance. Support is available 8:00am-4:00pm M-F during the school year.

Need a chromebook, power adapter or replacement device? Replacement devices are available when students are onsite at their school. To make other arrangements for pickup, please use the contact info above.

Support For Using a Home Device
Only isd728.org gmail accounts are configured for Rapid Portal access. Families should make sure students are signed using the student’s account instead of other personal accounts to ensure access is allowed. If students are using a personally owned device at home, Chrome browser is recommended for accessing student links and school resources. Students can be added to Chrome as a separate person and Signed into Chrome to simplify access. For shared devices, this also separates access to school resources from family use to avoid sign-in issues between all accounts using the device. The user guides listed below can assist you with this process.
If you do not have the Chrome browser on your device, download and install using the resources below
Additional Distance Learning information and resources are available on the district website at www.isd728.org/COVID-19.
Back to School Plan/Learning Models
100% Distance Learning Option

Families who want the certainty of 100 % distance learning for the start of the 2020-2021 school year, with no movement between models, may opt into the district-wide (Early Education-Grade 12 ) 100% Distance Learning Option. To enroll in the optional program, a commitment until November 19, 2020 is required. Families will have opportunities to opt in and opt out two additional times throughout the year, October 30 - November 6, 2020 (which will start on November 19, 2020), and February 19 - February 26, 2021 (which will start on March 5, 2021). Students in the 100% Distance Learning Option will be taught by a licensed ISD 728 teacher. American Indian, Special Education and Language Learner services will be provided. Students in grades E-2 will complete lessons in Seesaw while students in grades 3-12 will complete lessons in Schoology. Requests to change instructional models will be reviewed prior to the start of each session and accommodations will be based on available licensed teachers and transportation.

After November 19, 2020, families will have the option to continue the distance learning option for another session or return to their assigned school.

To learn more about the 100% Distance Learning Model visit www.isd728.org/20-21-Learning-Models.
Health Guidelines/Information
- Parents are expected to complete a daily health screen for their child(ren) using guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The Minnesota Department of Health is expected to have the self assessment document available within the next week, and once finished, it will be posted to the District website.
- Children need to stay home if they have symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19, or if they have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 within the previous 14 days.
- Call your child’s school attendance line to report the absence, describe symptoms, relay positive COVID-19 diagnosis, or report that they are in close contact of someone with COVID-19.
- Children that arrive ill at school will be evaluated by Health Services staff and parents will be called to pick them up from school if their child is exhibiting symptoms.
- If a child meets the MDH exclusion criteria, the child will wait in the isolation room and parents will be called to pick up their child.
- If contacted to pick up your child, please do so within 30 minutes.
- Upon arrival, call the main office line and a staff member will walk your child out to you.
- It is recommended that parents contact the child’s healthcare provider if exhibiting symptoms.
- Children sent home with COVID-19 symptoms will need to remain home per the MDH exclusion guidelines (currently at least 10 days since symptom(s) first appeared AND until no fever for at least 24 hours without medication AND improvement of other symptoms) OR until they have a note from a healthcare provider documenting an alternative diagnosis, other than COVID-19.
- Siblings will need to remain home for 14 days.
- In addition to this, if a child is in close contact of a person diagnosed with COVID-19, he/she will need to remain home for 14 days.
Symptomatic Students
ISD 728 will have their existing Health Offices and an isolation room in each school. The existing Health Office will be utilized for medications, blood sugar checks and all other non-COVID-19 concerns. There will be a separate area for those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Parents are asked to respond as quickly as possible to picking up students who may be experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms. Symptomatic students will leave directly from the isolation room to be released to parents. Should a student be placed in quarantine, county and public health guidelines must be met prior to returning to school.
Transportation

Transportation Details in Parent Portal
Bus routes, bus stop locations, and pick-up and drop-off addresses are available in Parent Portal starting, August 26, 2020. Please ensure that the information for your pick-up and drop-off location address is correct. Split households or those with pre-arranged transportation circumstances may not be shown in Parent Portal. If you require a change from what is listed, please complete an Online Transportation Form and submit it immediately.

Students will continue to be routed up until the first day of school, so please check Parent Portal after 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2020 to confirm your information for the first day of school.

Transportation Survey Request
As we approach the start of the 2020-2021 school year, ISD 728 is planning transportation routes for the three (3) models of instruction (face-to-face, hybrid, distance learning) that may be implemented. We anticipate that we may need to move between these educational models throughout the year and across the District based on the number of COVID-19 cases, and anticipate it may be a challenge to remain compliant with bus capacity recommendations provided by the Department of Health at certain times.

Therefore, we are asking parents/guardians for their help. While we are prepared to provide transportation for all of our children, we are asking parents to consider transporting their own children to school instead of having them take the bus if they have the ability to do so, forgoing District provided transportation services this year.

If you are able to help and to transport your own child(ren), please complete the Parent/Student Self-Transportation Form indicating that you will provide transportation, and we will notify Vision Transportation of the change.

With greater flexibility of space on our buses, we hope that we will be able to provide more social distancing, lessen time on buses, and continue to keep our children healthy.

Note: If you are eligible and opt out of district-provided transportation, but need it later in the year for your child, it will still be provided and available.

Thank you for your help, continued support of our schools, and for being part of ISD 728.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Governor announce Back to School Plans?
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) announced they an update about plans for the 2020-21 school year on Thursday, July 30, 2020. That announcement put many of the decisions in the hands of local districts, with guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health.

Will parents/guardians be able to choose Virtual / Distance Learning even if the Governor says all schools will reopen for the 2020-21 school year?
Yes, parents will be able to select a virtual or distance learning model for their child, even if face-to-face learning is the guidance offered by the state and/or District.

ISD 728 announced they would communicate their Back to School Plans the week of August 14, why can’t the District announce them earlier?
Back to school plans change frequently based on recommendations from the Department of Education and the Department of Health. In addition, final plans will depend on things such as parent preference (i.e. distance learning or not), availability of staff, capacity to address an outbreak, number of students requesting transportation, etc. ISD 728 will utilize the latest data from the MDH in order to provide a safe return to learning that serves our specific school communities.

Will there be sports this Fall?
The Minnesota State High School League has the authority to make decisions about sports and/or activities for all Minnesota school districts. The League’s Board is expected to make its decision on Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

If the District is told to utilize a Hybrid or Virtual Model, will childcare be available within ISD 728?
It is the District’s intent to provide childcare in accordance with the Executive Order and as we are able. Decisions will be made based on variables such as available space, ability to implement social distancing in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines, available staff, etc.

Will there be increased cleaning protocols implemented throughout our schools?
Yes, increased cleaning protocols will be implemented in each of our schools.

Will students and staff be expected to complete any type of “wellness assessment” prior to entering our schools?
Yes, students and staff will be required to complete a “wellness assessment” prior to entering school district property.

Will staff be wearing face coverings?
Yes, per the Governor’s Executive Order, Minnesotans must wear a face covering in indoor businesses and indoor public settings, which includes schools and on school district transportation.

If the District is guided to utilize a Hybrid or Virtual Model, will meals be provided for our children?
It is the District’s intent to make meals available for students in a Hybrid and/or Virtual Model, even when children are not onsite. Final decisions will depend on such factors as available funding, staffing, etc. Read on for more information about ISD 728's approach to each model.

If the state data determines ISD 728 needs a Hybrid Model, when and how often will my child be coming to school?
The frequency for which children come to school will depend on transportation. Written differently, Minnesota law requires school districts to provide transportation for certain students. The availability of buses and bus drivers, and how many students can legally be transported with social distancing requirements on each bus will determine how often students will come to school. Read on for more information about each model.

Will Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) be provided for students and staff who are unable to provide it themselves?
Yes, PPE will be made available for students and staff who are unable to provide it themselves. Because supplies are somewhat limited and may not always be available, individuals are asked to provide it themselves if able.

Will schools have isolation rooms identified if a student or students fall sick during the day?
Yes, each school will have an isolation room identified for individuals not feeling well.

Is it possible that my child’s school will be face to face, hybrid and virtual throughout the year?
Yes, it is possible. Decisions about whether a school and/or school district can be occurring onsite and/or virtually will be made in collaboration with the Department of Health and Department of Education. Based on the number of cases and level of exposure, it is possible that a child may experience each of the three models throughout the year. Read on for more information about each model.

Is it possible that my child’s instruction at the elementary level may be different from my child’s instruction at the High School?
Yes. Decisions about whether children can be receiving instruction onsite will be based on recommendations from the Department of Health and Department of Education, and may vary. If there is a high number of confirmed cases at one site, it is possible that one school may be using a different instructional model than a school that has a few or no confirmed cases.

Can the District make decisions sooner than August 21, 2020?
Yes, the District could announce a decision sooner. However, current data does not allow ISD 728 to provide face-to-face instruction for the entire District. The only legal option ISD 728 has at this point is to declare a more restrictive model, which would be Hybrid or Distance Learning for all. This outcome would not align with our preference of being back in school and face-to-face. Therefore, we want to wait until August 21, 2020 to make a decision, which is the last possible date allowed under the Governor’s Order and the date in which we will have the most up-to-date information, in hope that we will be allowed to have more face-to-face instruction in our schools to start the year.

Does the District have to use county data to make instructional model decisions?
The Department of Health has determined it is not safe for all learners in ISD 728 to receive Face-to-Face instruction at this time. They are basing that decision on local, county data within the school district.

Districts must have the approval from the Department of Health to use an instructional model (Face-to-Face or Hybrid) that is different from the one supported by the county data.

Minnesota school districts are unable to select what data they want to use and what data they do not want to use. Additionally, districts can not average the data from different counties.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) indicated schools are to use data from the county with the highest number of cases to make the decision, and may choose a more restrictive instructional model if desired. Again, if a decision is based on different data, it must be approved by the Department of Health and Commissioner. ISD 728 has not been given permission or approval to do so.

Finally, guidance states, “School districts must adhere to the health requirements and recommendations in the MDH 2020-21 Planning Guidance” and that “the education commissioner retains statutory authority to order the transition from in-person instruction to a distance learning model if it is determined – after consultation with MDH – that in-person instruction is no longer safe due to concerns related to COVID-19.”
In summary:
- The Department of Health has determined it is not safe for all learners in ISD 728 to receive Face-to-Face instruction at this time
- ISD 728 has not been given authority or permission to implement a Face-to-Face Model for all learners
- ISD is hopeful that data obtained closer to the start of school will allow for more Face-to-Face instruction
- We will continue to work with the State and Department of Health to explore the safest and best options for our families
What information can the District provide about each instructional model (Face-to-Face, Hybrid, Distance Learning)?
Specific details about each model will be dependent on such things as the ability to transport students, the number of families who choose to have their children transported, the instructional model mandated by the Governor’s Executive Order, the number of families who choose Distance Learning for their child(ren) etc.

The District is collecting family intentions for Distance Learning now. We will communicate specific information on the model details in ISD 728 during the week of August 17, 2020. However, here is some information we can share today about each instructional model:

What will the Full Time Distance Learning Option look like?
As we have previously shared with families, you may opt into the ISD 728 Distance Learning Model if you would prefer a full time distance learning option, regardless of what other learning model may be in place.

Learners who opt into the Distance Learning Model will:
- Be organized by grade level/course when possible by building/class
- Engage in synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (flexible) learning activities
- Participate in meetings with teachers in the appropriate licensure area
- Have opportunities to interact with other students from the same building/class as much as possible
- Meet all grade/content learning standards and graduation requirements
- Demonstrate learning through multiple pathways
(Please Note: The 2020 Distance Learning Model will be different than the model used last spring in many ways. For example, there will be daily interactions between students and teachers, and grade level expectations will be the same as in the traditional Face-to-Face Model.)

By selecting Distance Learning by the August 9, 2020 deadline, a Parent/Guardian is guaranteed a spot within the ISD 728 District’s Distance Learning Program for their child(ren) and is committed to participating in this model until at least November 19, 2020. By having this information and commitment, ISD 728 will be better able to plan for and address staffing, transportation, and food service needs for all learners.

If Parents/Guardians of children participating in the Distance Learning Model are interested at some point in their child(ren) returning to a Face-to-Face Model after November 19, 2020, they will be given that opportunity if onsite, face-to-face instruction is allowed.

What will the Hybrid Model look like?
In a Hybrid Model, learners are expected to receive instruction from teachers every day of the week in either a distance or in-person format. Learners will have opportunities to engage with staff on a daily basis to support learning. Like the Distance Model, learners participating in the Hybrid Model will:
- Be organized by grade level/course when possible by building/class
- Engage in synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (flexible) learning activities
- Participate with teachers in the appropriate licensure area
- Have opportunities to interact with other students from the same building/class as much as possible
- Meet all grade/content learning standards and graduation requirements
- Demonstrate learning through multiple pathways
In addition, ISD 728 will follow MDH guidance and the MDE guidance including, but not limited to the following:
- Limit building occupancy to no more that 50% with sufficient room for social distancing
- Signage to reinforce social distancing used throughout the building
- Flow of traffic into and through the building will be designed around social distancing
- Visitor/Parent access to schools will be limited
- Limit room occupancy to no more than 50% with sufficient room for social distancing
- High frequency touch points will be sanitized throughout the day
- Spaces will be sanitized each night
- Rooms will be organized for social distancing
- Limit transportation occupancy to no more than 50%
- High frequency touch points will be sanitized between routes
- A deep cleaning of all surfaces will take place daily
- Students from the same family will be seated together
What can you tell us about requirements related to students, masks, and/or face coverings?
Governor's Executive Order 20-81 requires all Minnesotans to wear a face covering in all indoor businesses and public indoor spaces, unless alone. This includes times on a school bus and/or van. According to the Order:

Face coverings include a paper or disposable face mask, a cloth face mask, a scarf, a bandana, a neck gaiter, or a religious face covering
- Individuals with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that makes it unreasonable for the individual to maintain a face covering are exempt
- Children 5 years old and under who are not in Kindergarten yet are not required to wear a face shield or face covering, and children under two should never wear a face covering due to the risk of suffocation
- Kindergarten through grade 12 schools must comply with face covering and face shield guidance
- Face coverings may be removed:
Will I be able to select the Distance Learning Model after the August 9, 2020 deadline and after I know more of the details regarding the other models?
Yes, parents will be given the opportunity to select Distance Learning after information about the various models are released the Week of August 17, 2020.

I don’t want to commit to Distance Learning until I know what the District models look like, what do I do?
Wait. If you are not ready to commit to Distance Learning, we would recommend you wait and not complete the survey. Once the details for each instructional model are finalized and communicated, families will have the opportunity to make a final informed decision.

If I select Distance learning now but hear on the 21st that the building is in Hybrid can we switch back?
Yes, however, we would prefer you not select Distance Learning unless you are sure you want it, as parent choice will impact initial staffing, transportation, and food service decisions. Once the details for each instructional model are finalized and communicated, families will have the opportunity to make an informed decision.

I don’t think it’s fair that Rogers has to use Hennepin County numbers to determine our model. Why can’t we use different data?
We may be able to use different data, and have asked for permission to do so from the Department of Health and the Department of Education.

What will the District be offering for child care?
ISD 728 is still refining details related to child care based on such things as available space, staffing, family need, and safety. At a minimum, school-age care must be provided for district or school-enrolled school-age children age 12 and under who are children of critical workers in Tier I of the state critical worker list. Children of Tier I workers only will be cared for at no cost during the typical school hours. The Tier I list of eligible children is below.

Tier I
- Healthcare and public health
- Law enforcement, public safety and first responders
- Food and agriculture
- Judicial Branch (essential services)
- National Guard (activated under a Governor Executive Order)
- Educators and school staff providing in-person instruction or caring for children of critical workers
- Child care and school-age care providers
Can I shift between Distance Learning and the other models as I see what my building is doing?
Distance learning will remain an option for families throughout the year and families will be provided opportunities at designated times to have their child enroll and/or transition from to a different model if offered. However, because parent choice impacts things such as transportation, food service, staffing, etc… options will be limited.

My child is in a small special education class already, will that impact the hybrid model for daily attendance?
Possibly. Individual IEP needs may impact attendance requirements.

How will students with IEPs be supported in Distance learning?
Individual IEPs dictate the level and type of service. Special education coordinators and staff will work directly with families to navigate student needs.

Will band still happen in face-to-face?
Details related to band will be based on guidance from the Department of Health and the Health Services Team. Discussions are happening now, and more information will be available the week of August 17, 2020.

How will transportation run in face-to-face?
In a Face-to-Face Model, transportation would happen the same way it did prior to COVID 19, and would allow for up to 77 children on a bus.

If I choose Distance learning can I stay with that option for the whole year?
Yes.

If the state guidance is considered “recommendations” can our District still make its own decisions?
School districts must follow the recommendations or get prior approval from the Department of Health and the Department of Education. School districts may also choose a more restrictive model than identified by the data / parameters. ISD 728 has asked for permission to use more localized data and to not use data from prisons located within the District’s boundary.

Can I get my tax dollars/referendum dollars back if we do not have in-person learning this year?
No. School districts are required to provide instruction and to cover the costs associated with instruction regardless of whether instruction occurs onsite or off. In addition, the expenditures required to meet the COVID 19 mandates (i.e. provide childcare for free) exceed the amount of money received from taxpayers.

What does the virtual learning/hybrid model look like?
Specific details are being refined and will be communicated the week of August 17, 2020. In general, the virtual learning model will have instruction given daily online and offsite. A hybrid model will include some time on site and some time at home. The educational standards and expectations will be similar.

If data does not change significantly between now and the start of school, what models of instruction will be used in ISD 728?:
Unless localized data changes significantly between now and the start of school, ISD 728 expects to have Early Childhood and Elementary students return face-to-face daily and throughout the District.

How will Prairie View operate with an Elementary and Secondary building in one?
While PrairieView Elementary / Middle School is unique due to its E-8 model, it is expected to follow the same plan for each grade span, which means that Prairie View Elementary students (K-5) may be treated differently than Prairie View Middle School students (6-8).

In other words, it would be possible that Early Childhood and Elementary students at PrairieView would return face to face daily, and secondary students would be participating in a Hybrid Model. This would be consistent with the Minnesota Department of Health guidance and requirements.

Is it possible that schools within ISD 728 will have different instructional models throughout the year or will ISD 728 make instructional model decisions for the entire school district?
Yes, it is possible and likely that schools within ISD 728 will have different instructional models throughout the year.

ISD 728 may, but will not necessarily, make instructional model decisions for the entire school district. More specifically, the Superintendent, District Leadership, and the entire Health Services Team will work with public health officials from all five counties, as well as representatives from the Minnesota Department of Health and Department of Education to make decisions. For example, if the number of positive COVID 19 cases are high in one area, but not in another, the District may have one school in a more restrictive instructional model (Hybrid or Distance Learning) and another school in a face-to-face model.

Has the district received any of the CARES money allocated from the state? If so how much and what are you spending it on?
Yes, the School District did receive notification that it qualified for $818,846.00 in CARES funding. We are planning to use the funds to help us through the additional costs being brought about by the Pandemic situation we are experiencing.

Some of the things we are currently planning for are: hiring additional health services staff, purchasing appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for students and staff, providing additional technology devices for students, anticipated transportation cost increases to meet social distancing requirements and other supports for students, as we are navigating the start of school in a few weeks.

Are staff allowed to test our children for the virus? Also, is the state overseeing schools and taking kids to quarantine them (away from their families) if the test is positive.
Staff will not be testing students and the state cannot take kids away to quarantine or test.

If I choose the Distance Learning Model, would I need to shop for the same school supplies?
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to work directly with their child’s teacher to determine specific needs. However, having the same school supplies, if able, would be beneficial.

If I choose to have my child participate in the distance learning model, is my child eligible for school aged care?
No, if a family chooses to have their child participate in distance learning, their child and/or children are not eligible for school aged care.

I work for a school district, can my child attend child care in ISD 728?
If your child currently attends ISD 728 schools, your child would be eligible for child care. If you live within the District and are considered a Tier 1 Worker in the Governor’s Executive Order, your child may also be eligible for child care in ISD 728.

Executive Order 20-82 indicates that a school district or charter school that operates a hybrid or distance learning model “must provide school-aged care for Eligible Children at no cost during the time those children are not receiving instruction in the school building during regular school hours.”
- Educators and school staff providing in-person instruction or caring for children of critical workers
If my child is participating in the District’s hybrid model and is assigned to “A Days”, can he/she take the school bus to ISD 728 child care on “B Days?
No. The District must adhere to the Department of Health Guidelines for school buses, which requires 50% occupancy. In other words, there would not be room on school buses to transport children on days in which they are not assigned.

If I homeschool my child, do I have access to the District curriculum?
No. The District does not provide curriculum material for homeschool students.

Will students be required to be at their computer and available during school hours on the days that they have distance learning.
No, in Distance Learning, the guidelines will be posted but the flexibility of when they complete their work is up to them. For attendance reasons, we must "engage" with students daily. Engagement can be to respond to an online article & questions, show progress on a project based learning assignment, etc.

Many students have jobs during the summer and they are trying to figure out if they can juggle work and school this fall. Will that be possible?
It will be similar but more rigorous with daily engagement and deadlines but when they complete it is truly the beauty of Distance Learning. Staff will also offer virtual contact at a minimum twice a week.

If I choose distance learning, do I need to be at my computer and available during school hours on the days that I have distance learning?
No, in Distance Learning, the guidelines will be posted but the flexibility of when you complete your work is up to you. For attendance reasons, we must "engage" with students daily. Engagement can be responding to an online article, answering questions, showing progress on a project based learning assignment, etc.

Can I continue to work my job and participate in distance learning?
Yes. While distance learning will be more rigorous than last year and include daily engagement and deadlines, students will have flexibility as to when they will complete the work.

Will my child still be able to participate in honors type classes such as Advanced Placement?
Yes, ISD 728 plans to continue to offer these classes regardless of whether a student is participating at school or at home.

Can I choose to send my child to school now, but later change to distance learning?
Yes.

What happens if a child or staff member tests positive for COVID 19?
ISD 728 Health staff will work directly with the individual and the Minnesota Department of Health. Typically, individuals who test positive will be required to stay home at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared AND until no fever for at least 24 hours without medication AND improvement of other symptoms. Siblings and household members also stay home for 14 days.

Will custodians be using the same products they always have used to clean, just at a higher frequency or will they be using new products/chemicals for cleaning? Has a third party been hired to handle the cleaning or will it be left up to the custodians? What are the cleaning protocols (throughout the day, at the end of the day, over the weekend)?
Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting for COVID-19 will be done by custodial staff with assistance from all other staff as needed throughout the day. Custodial management is currently finalizing a plan which identifies high-touch surfaces in various areas of the building, who is responsible for cleaning those surfaces, how often, and with which product.

The products we will be using at the start of the school-year to disinfect from COVID-19 are Ecolab SmartPower S&S, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, CleanCide Wipes, Sani-Cloth Disinfecting Wipes, and Lysol Disinfecting Wipes. Custodial staff will use SmartPower while other staff will use wipes. We may eventually allow non-custodians to use SmartPower if we are unable to maintain an adequate supply of wipes.  These products were chosen specifically because they are effective against COVID-19 yet are fairly low hazard compared to many other disinfectants.  Staff will receive training before school starts on how to use these products safely and effectively which includes not using them around children.

What data is ISD 728 using to make their decision on what model will be implemented?
The Department of Education and the Department of Health gave the District permission to use localized data. What that means is that we use county data, city data, zip code data, data by day, data by week and 14 day trends, etc. In other words, we do not need to rely on one data point (i.e. county) to make the decision since we serve students in five counties over a large geographic area.

In one county for example, the county data reflected 103 cases at a prison. In another county, the cases were not anywhere near the District and were not considered by the Health experts to be the most reliable or best source for the District to use for decision making. In cases like those mentioned, it did not make sense to the District, public health officials in each county, or representatives from the Minnesota Department of Health to rely solely on County data.

As a result, we worked with public health officials from each of our counties, health experts from the Department of Education, Health Services staff within ISD 728, and health officials from the Department of Health to make our decision. All of the entities and all of the representatives supported the decision as it was based on the data.
Submit a Question
Student Face Covering Guide
- Student Face Covering Guide PDF
- Face Covering Exemption Form
COVID-19 Preparedness Plan
Child Care

ISD 728 will be offering child care to early childhood and elementary students before and after school, and on days that a child is not in attendance through the EdVenture Club program. Before and after school care is open and available now to register. Hybrid and distance learning care will be available to all, but ISD 728 will prioritize care, per the Governor’s order, to families who qualify as Tier 1 emergency care workers.

Families interested to hold a spot in the hybrid or distance learning child care program (should the District move to one of those models) will need to register and pay a deposit. This process will ensure space, staffing and schedules will be ready if the District needs to transition to one of the two models. The deposit fee will be applied to the first week that the District would shift to the hybrid or distance learning model. If the hybrid or distance learning child care program is not implemented or a family withdraws before the care is offered, the deposit will be refunded.

ISD 728 families needing care are encouraged to register as soon as possible as space, and staffing may limit the number of students able to be served in the childcare program. Registration for the hybrid and distance learning childcare program is due August 24, 2020. Registrations submitted after that date will be placed on a waitlist for approval.

For more information and to register please visit our EdVenture Club website at: www.isd728.org/EdVentureClub.

For frequently asked questions about the hybrid/distance learning childcare please click here.
Minnesota Safe Learning Plan for 2020-2021
Data for K-12 Schools: 14-day COVID-19 Case Rate by County
Resources/Links
COVID-19 Resources
- Talking with your children about COVID-19
- Tips to keep children healthy while school's out
- Community Resources
- MDH Recommendations for Schools and Child Care
- MDH Latest COVID-19 Updates
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19
- Webinars:
  - April 2, 2020 Free Webinar (one hour): What Every Elementary/Middle Student Needs to Know about the Coronavirus registration link. Please note that these times are Eastern Time Zone.
  - Webinar for Individuals with Chronic Lung Conditions registration link. COVID-19 and Chronic Lung Disease: What You Need to Know Every Monday at 1 p.m. CT, our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Albert Rizzo, will provide information on COVID-19 and recommendations for people with chronic lung disease and their caregivers. Register for the webinars in advance, watch recorded updates from previous weeks and access our FAQs 24/7
Please Note: ISD 728 does not endorse any of these websites below, our goal is to provide users with resources that may be helpful to them and their families

Food Shelves
- Food Shelf and Pantry Options
- CROSS Food Shelf - Rogers
- CAER Food Shelf - Elk River
- St. Paul's Food Shelf - Hanover
- Catholic Charities: call 320-229-4584 for delivered frozen meals
- Clearwater/Clear Lake Emergency Food Shelf: 320-558-2954
- Becker Food Shelf: 763-261-4612
- Big Lake food Shelf: call 763-263-2432
- Princeton Pantry Food Shelf: call 763-631-3578
- Salvation Army St. Cloud: call 320-252-4552
- MN Food Helpline: 1-888-711-1151, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Multilingual assistance. They assess your situation and provide solutions to help meet your family’s food needs.
Other Food Opportunities
- List of Restaurants Offering Free Lunches - KSTP
Mental Health
If you are in crisis, you may want to contact a crisis line to speak to a mental health professional immediately. Please see below for crisis resources:
- Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- Crisis Text Line: text "HOME" to 741741
- Four County Crisis Response Team: 1-800-635-8008
- The Trevor Lifeline (for LGBTQ youth): 1-866-488-7386
- Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860
If this is an emergency, please call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room.

If you are concerned about the safety of another individual, please call 9-1-1 immediately to arrange for help and support.

County/State/Support Options
How to Talk with Children about the Pandemic
Cell & Internet Information
- Free WiFi/Internet Options
- Comcast
- Charter
- AT&T
- Sprint
- Verizon
- T- Mobile
Mindfulness Resources & Activities
- Mindfulness for Distance Learning
- Yoga with Adrienne
- Calm App
Food Shelves
- CROSS Food Shelf - Rogers
- CAER Food Shelf - Elk River
- St. Paul's Food Shelf - Hanover
Other Food Opportunities
- List of Restaurants Offering Free Lunches - KSTP
- Free Kid Meals in Twin Cities Metro Area - Compiled by Washburn Center
Parent Resources (includes tools, apps, games, self-care)
Please Note: ISD 728 does not endorse any of these websites, our goal is to provide users with resources that may be helpful to them and their families

Email Updates to Families

September 15, 2020: Free Meals Returning for ISD 728 Students
ISD 728 has qualified for an extension of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Minnesota Department of Education’s free meal program for all currently enrolled ISD 728 students. This free meal service, which offers breakfast and lunch daily, starts Wednesday, September 16, 2020.

In other words - Grab-n-Go is BACK!

The USDA has extended this waiver to assist school districts and households in feeding kids. This benefit has been extended until Federal funds are no longer available. Once the waiver ends, all students will automatically be returned back to their normal lunch status. We will inform households when this will happen as soon as we are notified. This USDA sponsored free meal program is for all currently enrolled ISD 728 students regardless of whether they are participating in face to face, hybrid or distance learning models.

Students Participating in Face-to-Face Model
The free meal program will begin with cafeteria service on September 16, 2020 for all on-campus students.

Students Participating in the Hybrid or Distance Learning Model
The ‘Grab-n-Go’ meal program will start on Wednesday, September 16, 2020. Meals may be picked up from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. – Monday through Friday at the locations listed below. ISD 728 families can pick up their child’s meal at any of the locations listed.

Meal Pick-Up Locations
- Elk River High School
  - 900 School Street, Elk River
  - Door F, located at the back of the building, off Jackson Avenue
- Rogers High School
  - 21000 141st Avenue, Rogers
  - Door 10, located near the main entrance towards the end of the circle drive
- Zimmerman Middle/High School
  - 25900 4th Street W, Zimmerman
  - Door 10, located at the back of the building
Menus
Menus are located on the ISD 728 website, but are subject to change based on item availability. In some instances, warm meals (aka “hot lunch”) will need to be served. In these cases, the meal should be consumed immediately or families will need to utilize reheating instructions provided by food service staff. Allergens will be located on the Nutrition Services page of the District website, whenever possible.

At this time, this is the only means of meal distribution for Grab-n-Go. Due to food safety concerns, sending meals home with students – those in hybrid or in-person learning – is not available.

Due to the timing of the USDA announcement and the application process required for the free meal program, the District did officially begin the school year under the National School Lunch Program and therefore the District will be unable to provide refunds for meals served through September 15, 2020 as we were not yet able to provide the Grab-n-Go, USDA sponsored free program to all students.

Last, but not least, this is a friendly reminder to complete your free/reduced meal application for this school year if you have NOT done so already. Even though meals are currently free, they will not always be. The application also helps our district qualify for additional funding. It is essential that every household, that may qualify, fills out the application, even if you are currently distance learning. This will make the transition back to a typical meal service easier for families once the Federal and State government announce a change. Applications can be completed online through Parent Portal.

If you have questions regarding Grab-n-Go meal service, please contact Michelle Jones at michelle.jones@isd728.org
September 14, 2020: COVID-19 Rates in Wright County Increase, Possibly Impacting Instructional Model at Hassan, Otsego, and Prairie View Elementary
ISD 728 officials continue to work closely with public health officials to monitor COVID-19 trends and rates.

Wright County Data
As of September 10, 2020, Wright County was at 20.11 COVID-19 cases per 10,000 people over the last two weeks, up from 16.35 last week. Although this number crosses a threshold from Level 2 to Level 3 in the structure of case ranges and associated learning models established by the state (see the table on Page 1 of the Stay Safe MN Plan), no determination to change our learning model has been made at this time based on consultation with public health officials.

County case numbers – released each Thursday – are just the starting point for determining which learning models are in use (i.e. face-to-face, hybrid, distance learning). Now that school is in session, there are many more factors that come into play when determining a learning model, and a single week’s data point will not necessarily drive an immediate shift in learning models.

Wright County Public Health officials are currently consulting with the Minnesota Department of Health on other factors such as local school and community transmission. According to Wright County data, the case numbers have not shifted significantly since last week, and we have not yet had any positive cases confirmed among our student or staff populations in any Wright County school within ISD 728.

While the increased COVID-19 rates in Wright County could require Hassan, Prairie View, and Otsego Elementary to move from a face-to-face model to a hybrid model, it would not impact other ISD 728 schools. Other ISD 728 schools are located in and/or have students from different counties, or there is a different case rate threshold, such as those for secondary students.

Resources
For a list of cities within Wright County, please visit: www.co.wright.mn.us/250/Cities-Townships.

For overall case trends by county, please visit here.

Process and Timeline Involving Hassan, Otsego, and Prairie View Elementary Schools
If ISD 728 was to make a change to the learning model and move elementary schools serving students in or from Wright County (Hassan, Otsego and Prairie View) from a face-to-face model to hybrid, here is what the process and timeline would look like:
1. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends all school districts utilize three weekly data points before transitioning from one instructional model to another, as this could constitute a trend. ISD 728 officials would use data posted on September 10, 17, and 24, 2020.
  - If all three data points were above the Department of Health guidelines (20), parents would be notified September 25, 2020 that the District would be transitioning from face-to-face to hybrid in those three schools (effective October 7, 2020).
  - After each data point is posted (September 10, 17, and 24), the District will send a communication to students, families, and staff about current COVID rates, trends, and possible next steps.
  - Each county and the Minnesota Department of Health publish COVID-19 rates on their websites, which often include the number of cases by city, zip code, and/or county. ISD 728 uses these websites to gather information and ultimately to make decisions in consultation with each public health official. If community members are interested in reviewing data, they are encouraged to also use data published on each county and/or the Minnesota Department of Health website.
2. If elementary students in these schools transitioned to a hybrid model, students would come to school (face-to-face) the week of September 28, 2020 (through Oct. 2).
3. In this case, there would be no school for students at Hassan, Otsego, and Prairie View Elementary School on Monday or Tuesday, October 5 and 6, 2020 to allow for planning.
4. The hybrid model would begin for Hassan, Otsego and Prairie View students on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 (A Group). B Group would come to school on Thursday, October 8, 2020.
5. All elementary students in the hybrid model at Hassan, Otsego, and Prairie View Elementary School would receive distance learning every Friday, including Friday, October 9, 2020 and not be on site. This is the same model currently happening in all ISD 728 middle and high schools.
6. Hassan, Otsego, and Prairie View elementary students would be able to return to school in a face-to-face model when three weekly data points indicated it was safe to do so in accordance with the Stay Safe MN Plan.
Note: If there was a unique circumstance (i.e. outbreak at a specific school, not sufficient staffing, etc.), the District would also consider a transition, which could be done by classroom, school, county or district.

Please make sure your family has a plan in case a change in learning models must occur.

Thank you for being part of ISD 728, we will continue to work with public health officials and to implement plans that provide a safe environment in accordance with recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health.
September 3, 2020: Important Information: Food Service & Insurance
The District food service program is ready to welcome students back to school. Menus for lunch and breakfast are available at www.isd728.org/menus or through the Nutrislice app. Please select the appropriate school and meal to view the options.

Meal Prices
- Elementary Breakfast: $1.35
- Elementary Lunch: $2.95
- Secondary Breakfast: $1.45
- Secondary Lunch: $3.05
Infinite Campus Food Service
ISD 728 is excited to introduce Infinite Campus Food Service for the 2020-2021 School Year. Infinite Campus Food Service replaces PayPams meal payment system. With this change, student meal payments and purchases will be included in the same system families currently use for grades, course and school fees, bus routes, report cards, schedules and attendance.

In Campus Parent Portal you can:
1. View meal account balances
2. View cafeteria purchases
3. View payment history
4. Receive email notifications when your student’s lunch account balance is low
5. Make payments directly into a student meal account
6. Setup recurring payments
Please Note: There is no cost for using this system.

Need more information?
Visit www.isd728.org/Meal-Payment.

Breakfast Available for ISD 728 Students
In addition to a nutritious lunch, ISD 728 also offers breakfast for all students each morning. Breakfast menus are available for each school, via the Nutrislice App or by visiting www.isd728.org/menus. The ISD 728 breakfast menu features a variety of selections, which are served in the school cafeteria. Students who qualify for free or reduced meals, along with all Kindergarten students, can enjoy breakfast each morning FREE of charge. Please view this flyer for more information.

Apply Online for Free and Reduced Meals
Online applications for Free and Reduced Meals are now available for the 2020-2021 school year directly through Infinite Campus Parent Portal. A new form needs to be completed each school year, and you can apply anytime throughout the year if your circumstances change.

To determine eligibility, please login and apply through Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Select “More” and then “Meal Benefits” to begin. The parent/guardian will need to establish an e-signature before submitting the application. This can be accomplished through the step-by-step directions when completing the application. Applications can not be processed until all required information is complete. Student accounts do not have the capability to submit Meal Program Applications.

If you have other questions about Free and Reduced Meals or need assistance, please contact Patti Naugle at patricia.naugle@isd728.org or call (763) 241-3515.

Special Dietary Needs
If your child requires specific dietary needs or you have additional questions, please contact Michelle Jones, Food Service Manager, via email michelle.jones@isd728.org or by phone at (763) 241-3409.

Food Service Information for Distance/Hybrid Learners
ISD 728 will begin offering the ‘Quick-Pick’ meal service beginning on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 for ISD 728 students who are currently enrolled in Distance Learning or participating in the Hybrid model.

The Quick-Pick meal service:
- Offers breakfast and lunch for ISD 728 Enrolled Students
- MUST be picked up at the location/school that your ISD 728 student is enrolled.
- Is a paid meal service for those who do not qualify for educational meal benefits and a free service to families that qualify for Free/Reduced Educational Meal Benefits.
When picking up ‘Quick-Pick’ meal service, please be prepared to provide the student(s) full name and date of birth. Your student does not need to be present.

At some locations, you may need to exit your car and go to the door to pick-up the student meal.

Please note: This is different from the meal service that was provided last spring.

‘Quick-Pick’ Locations and Times By Area

Rogers/Otsego Area Schools:
- Rogers High School
  21000 141st Ave, Rogers 55374 | Main Entrance
  9:00 am - 10:00 am
- Rogers Middle School
  20855 141st Ave, Rogers 55374 | Bus Door
  9:30 am - 10:30 am
- Prairie View Elementary/Middle School
  12220 80th St NE, Otsego 55330 | Main Entrance
  9:30 am - 10:30 am
- Hassan Elementary School
  14055 Orchid Avenue, Rogers 55374 | Door D
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Rogers Elementary School
  12521 Main Street, Rogers 55374 | Door 2
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Otsego Elementary School
  8125 River Rd NE, Otsego 55330 | Main Entrance
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
Elk River Area Schools:
- Elk River High School
  900 School St NW, Elk River 55330 | Door G
  9:00 am - 10:00 am
- VandenBerge Middle School
  948 Proctor Ave NW, Elk River 55330 | Door L
  9:30 am - 10:30 am
- Salk Middle School
  11970 Highland Rd NW, Elk River 55330 | Door T
  9:30 am - 10:30 am
- Lincoln Elementary School
  600 School St, Elk River 55330 | Door 2
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Parker Elementary School
  500 School St, Elk River 55330 | Door 2
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Twin Lakes Elementary School
  10051 191st Ave NW, Elk River 55330 | Door F
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Meadowvale Elementary School
  12701 Elk Lake Rd NW, Elk River 55330 | Door 7
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
Zimmerman Area Schools:
- Zimmerman Middle/High School
  25900 4th St W, Zimmerman 55398 | Bus Door
  9:00 am - 10:00 am
- Westwood Elementary School
  13651 4th Ave S, Zimmerman 55398 | Door 3
  10:00 am - 11:00 am
- Zimmerman Elementary School
  25959 4th Street West, Zimmerman 55398 | Office
  9:30 am - 10:30 am
Other ISD 728 Programs: (C.O.M.P.A.S.S. Ivan Sand Community High/Middle School)
- Elk River High School
  900 School St NW, Elk River 55330 | Door G
  9:00 am - 10:00 am
‘Quick-Pick’ Menu and Special Dietary Needs
Specific menus for Distance and Hybrid Learners can be found online at isd728.nutrislice.com/menu under the option “Distance Learners.” If your child requires specific dietary needs or you have additional questions, please contact Michelle Jones, Food Service Manager, via email michelle.jones@isd728.org or by phone at (763) 241-3409.

Low-Cost Health Insurance for Children and Families
Does your child have health insurance? Minnesota Health Care Programs have free and low-cost health insurance for children and families who qualify. Your child may qualify if your household income is below:

Family Size

Monthly Income

Yearly Income

2

$3,950

$47,410

3

$4,977

$59,730

4

$6,004

$72,050

5

$7,030

$84,370

Income is one factor for qualifying. Other rules and limits apply. For more information, call your county office at the number below or visit: mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/adults/health-care. The income limits above are valid until June 30, 2021.

To get a MNsure application for health coverage and help paying costs (DHS-6696):
- Print one from mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/adults/health-care
- Call 877-KIDS-NOW toll free
- Call your local county office:
Need Help with Interpreting?

Non-Discrimination Statement
- In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
  
  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
  
  To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: www.ascr.usda.gov, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form.
  
  To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
- This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
September 2, 2020: Bus Transportation Verification

Just a reminder, bus routes, bus stop locations, and pick-up and drop-off addresses are available in Parent Portal.

Please ensure that the information for your pick-up and drop-off location address is correct. Split households or those with pre-arranged transportation circumstances may not be shown in Parent Portal.

If you require a change from what is listed, please complete an Online Transportation Form and submit it immediately.

NEW INFORMATION
Families that have recently changed their election from Distance Learning to having their student(s) attend school on campus in the "Face-to-Face Model" at elementary schools and/or "Hybrid Model" in the middle and high schools, are asked to double check their bus information in Parent Portal if needing bus service.

If you do not see bus information for your student, please complete an Online Transportation Form immediately to ensure appropriate transportation.

Students transportation changes will continue to be updated throughout the week, so please check Parent Portal after 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2020 for the latest routing information for the first day of school.

Late requests/submissions may not be processed prior to the start of the school year due to the observance of the Labor Day Holiday. Vision Transportation Offices will be closed beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2020 and will reopen at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

Please Note: The schedule for the first day of school begins on a Tuesday, a “(B) Rotation Day.” Middle/high school students in the Hybrid Learning Model assigned to the “(B) Rotation Day” will report on Tuesday September 8, 2020.

For our middle and high school families, bus routes will also remain the same for both A/B day rotations to provide consistent bus arrival times across the District. Although buses may stop at your student(s) bus stop on both rotation days, do not be alarmed. Your student(s) should only ride on their assigned rotation day. This will allow the District and Transportation to more easily move between Face-to-Face and Hybrid Learning Models in the future. Thank you for your understanding.
August 21, 2020: Message from the Superintendent: Back to School
Dear Students, Staff, Parents and Community Members:

Thank you for your continued support and engagement, we are proud to work with you as we navigate the pandemic and provide quality opportunities for our children. After much work and collaboration, we are proud to announce that we will be able to begin the 2020-2021 school year in:
- FACE-TO-FACE MODEL for early childhood and elementary students
- HYBRID MODEL for middle and high school students
These models, which will be implemented throughout the school district, are supported by the local data, public health officials, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health.

Early Childhood and Elementary School Students

ISD 728 plans to reopen and welcome all early childhood and elementary students back into our classrooms for the 2020-2021 school year Monday through Friday, beginning Tuesday, September 8, 2020. However, we will be routinely reminding our students, staff, and families to be mindful of key preventive measures.

Middle and High School Students (Secondary)

ISD 728 plans to reopen and welcome all middle and high school students back into our classrooms for the 2020-2021 school year in the so-called “hybrid model,” which will limit the overall number of people in school facilities and on transportation to 50 percent maximum occupancy. Social distancing with at least six (6) feet between people must occur at all times, and this model will serve as a bridge, we hope, to eventual in-person learning.

In this model, middle and high school students will participate in a two-day in-person model, with three days of distance learning per week on dates those students are not in our buildings. Hybrid model assignments for A/B schedules for each student will be announced via CAMPUS messenger no later than August 31, 2020.

In addition to information above, the video below provides information about the communication that was sent out Monday with details about our instructional models, health screening and expectations, a reminder to view the District website for up-to-date information, and questions to some of the most commonly asked questions.

The past several months have been an incredibly challenging time for the entire ISD 728 community. I want to thank you for your patience, support, and engagement along the way. We look forward to another exciting year, and remain committed to our values, mission, and vision.

Sincerely,
Dan Bittman
ISD 728 Superintendent
August 20, 2020: Important Health, Face Covering and Transportation Information
ISD 728 Parents and Guardians,

Thank you for your support and engagement as we continue to provide updates and communicate important back to school information. This communication contains health related guidance, information about face coverings, and a transportation-related request.

Please continue to visit www.isd728.org for the most updated information about COVID-19, Back to School, and much more.

Health Guidelines/Information
- Parents are expected to complete a daily health screen for their child(ren) using guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The Minnesota Department of Health is expected to have the self assessment document available within the next week, and once finished, it will be posted to the District website.
- Children need to stay home if they have symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19, or if they have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 within the previous 14 days.
- Call your child’s school attendance line to report the absence, describe symptoms, relay positive COVID-19 diagnosis, or report that they are in close contact of someone with COVID-19.
- Children that arrive ill at school will be evaluated by Health Services staff and parents will be called to pick them up from school if their child is exhibiting symptoms.
- If a child meets the MDH exclusion criteria, the child will wait in the isolation room and parents will be called to pick up their child.
- If contacted to pick up your child, please do so within 30 minutes.
- Upon arrival, call the main office line and a staff member will walk your child out to you.
- It is recommended that parents contact the child’s healthcare provider if exhibiting symptoms.
- Children sent home with COVID-19 symptoms will need to remain home per the MDH exclusion guidelines (currently at least 10 days since symptom(s) first appeared AND until no fever for at least 24 hours without medication AND improvement of other symptoms) OR until they have a note from a healthcare provider documenting an alternative diagnosis, other than COVID-19.
- Siblings will need to remain home for 14 days.
- In addition to this, if a child is in close contact of a person diagnosed with COVID-19, he/she will need to remain home for 14 days.
Symptomatic Students
ISD 728 will have their existing Health Offices and an isolation room in each school. The existing Health Office will be utilized for medications, blood sugar checks and all other non-COVID-19 concerns. There will be a separate area for those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Parents are asked to respond as quickly as possible to picking up students who may be experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms. Symptomatic students will leave directly from the isolation room to be released to parents. Should a student be placed in quarantine, county and public health guidelines must be met prior to returning to school.

Face Covering Guide
A student face covering guide is available at www.isd728.org/Student-Face-Covering-Guide and on the District website. It includes information about face coverings, wearing them appropriately, when they can be removed, and alternatives. We appreciate your support and help with keeping our children and staff safe.

Transportation Survey Request
As we approach the start of the 2020-2021 school year, ISD 728 is planning transportation routes for the three (3) models of instruction (face-to-face, hybrid, distance learning) that may be implemented. We anticipate that we may need to move between these educational models throughout the year and across the District based on the number of COVID-19 cases, and anticipate it may be a challenge to remain compliant with bus capacity recommendations provided by the Department of Health at certain times.

Therefore, we are asking parents/guardians for their help. While we are prepared to provide transportation for all of our children, we are asking parents to consider transporting their own children to school instead of having them take the bus if they have the ability to do so, forgoing District provided transportation services this year.

If you are able to help and to transport your own child(ren), please complete the
Parent/Student Self-Transportation Form indicating that you will provide transportation, and we will notify Vision Transportation of the change.

With greater flexibility of space on our buses, we hope that we will be able to provide more social distancing, lessen time on buses, and continue to keep our children healthy.

Note: If you are eligible and opt out of district-provided transportation, but need it later in the year for your child, it will still be provided and available.

Thank you for your help, continued support of our schools, and for being part of ISD 728.
August 17, 2020: Message from the Superintendent: 2020-2021 Back to School Plan

ISD 728 Families, Students and Staff:

Independent School District 728 is excited to enter the 2020-2021 academic year with a back to school plan that will deliver on our District’s mission and vision to educate, inspire and empower our more than 14,000 students.

The plan, available at www.isd728.org/Back-To-School-Plan, provides information about the three state mandated instructional models (i.e. face-to-face, hybrid, distance learning), as well as details of the 100% Distance Learning Option our district has been developing since the COVID-19 pandemic impacted our students, families and staff last spring.

These three learning models, as well as the District’s 100% Distance Learning Option, have been designed to keep safety as our top priority for all, to deliver on our state-leading academic achievement, to honor student, family, and staff feedback and choice, and to provide as much flexibility as possible.

We fully expect to utilize all of these models throughout the year and will base future decisions on local data, as well as guidance from the Department of Education and Department of Health. As of this communication, we anticipate that the school year will start with Early Childhood and Elementary students attending everyday face-to-face and Middle and High School students attending in our Hybrid model.

On August 21, 2020, the official learning model to start the 2020-2021 school year will be announced.

If you have any questions, please use the contact information outlined in the document at any time. We appreciate your support of ISD 728, and we look forward to achieving many great things together this school year.

Sincerely,
Dr. Daniel Bittman
ISD 728 Superintendent

Click graphic below to view the ISD 728 Back to School Plan
August 6, 2020: VIDEO: ISD 728 Superintendent Update: August 2020
Watch ISD 728 Superintendent Dan Bittman give an update on the 2020-2021 school year, wearing face coverings, sports and childcare.
Video Transcript:

Greetings ISD 728 families, this is Dr. Dan Bittman. I’m grateful to be here and continue to communicate and to partner with you as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Today I want to provide you all with some updated information regarding questions that we've been getting from numerous families which have all been great. We feel the need to continue to do that throughout these weeks and as we get more information.

Learning Models

The first question I received is why is it that we have to use certain data from the county to make decisions. That's a really good question. The Governor and the Department of Health as well the education commissioner said we are to use the data from the county with the most cases of COVID-19 to make a decision (in our return to learning). In that situation we have a small number of folks - about 2,000 in our district of nearly 14,000 that come from Hennepin County. With that being said (Hennepin as our guidance) we would be required to have a hybrid learning for all students early childhood through grade 12. Or, we would also have the option of doing virtual for everyone should the district decide to do that. We do NOT want to do that. We have heard loud and clear from families that have said they would like our kids to be able to be in school, to the best of our ability.

We have asked for permission from the Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Education to use different data. For example, ZIP code data in the Hennepin County area, which would allow us, if we are given permission, to have a different model.

We also expressed concerns and asked for permission to not use information in Sherburne County regarding the current prison, recognizing that cases are higher at the prison. The bottom line is that school districts are required to use the county data, and we have asked for that permission to look at specific data as it pertains to our district. And we are looking forward to and hopeful for approval to do so. If we do get the waiver to do this we will then be able to do something different to start the year.

Additionally, I want to talk about what that might look like in the Fall if we are able to use different data. Once we have that approval (to use specific data) - unless something significant changes - it would mean the ISD 728 elementary students and early childhood students would be able to come face to face to start the school year. Again we have asked for permission to do that and are waiting to see if we are allowed to use different data.

Our secondary students - those in middle school and high school - would be a hybrid model. And the hybrid model is something we are obviously refining, and information will come out the week of August 17.

Our parents should know the hybrid model would look like the hybrid model in other districts throughout the state. Essentially a hybrid model would mean that students would be on site in school two or three days a week and then they’d be learning virtually for the days that they were not in school. Students would be assigned to which days they would be in the building, and we would prioritize having children from families on the same day if and when possible. we would not be able to accommodate special requests to be with neighbors, friends and extended family etc., because we have 14,000 students. But, we would prioritize family members to be on the same schedule.

If we are in Distance Learning - we talked about the distance-learning would be different than it was in the spring. There would not be the flexibility, per se, in the way that there was in the spring. There would be regular interaction throughout the day with staff for families.

Masks/Face Coverings

We have gotten a number of emails and communications about masks. I know that there are strong feelings (about this). Many of you have emailed me that your children should not have to wear masks. And many of you have emailed me saying “How can we not have students wear masks?” I just want to comment that there is a mandate from the Governor. School districts are not given choices. Nor would they take a stand in that type of manner. The Governor has indicated that masks must be worn unless there is an exception.

There are three exceptions to not wear a mask that are allowed by state law:
1. If there is a medical reason to do so and that would require medical documentation in collaboration with district staff.
2. The second would be that there was a developmental reason in the needs of the child and again the parent would need to work with the school district to determine if that was a legitimate reason that is behavioral.
3. Third is if there are specific special needs for a child that would make wearing a mask extremely difficult, and that might be a reason for an exception.
We will continue to work with and for families. School districts do not get a choice. And we are stating that we recognize that wearing a mask does reduce the chances of infection, so we would ask that families for your safety and the safety of others please wear a face covering as outlined in the statute.

Fall Sports

We have also received a lot of communications about high school and middle school sports. The Minnesota State High School League communicated some decisions in regards to sports. We now know that soccer for boys and girls, as well as cross country for boys and girls, girls tennis and girls swim and dive will occur this fall, but will have some modifications in terms of schedule times and regulations.

We also know that the high school league moved volleyball and football to a so-called third season that will take place between March and May.

We know that there will be a number of things that you have questions about, and things that we also have questions about. We continue to wait for further guidance from the department of health as well as the high school league about things such as fans - how many individuals can be at an event? How many teams can participate? So know that as we get more direction and information we will provide it.

We are excited that our students will have the opportunity to participate in sports, and we look forward to being engaged in this way.

Childcare/EdVenture Club

And finally the next most common question relates to childcare. We are still refining the details related to our child care based on such things as available space, family need, and safely being able to follow the department of health requirements.

At a minimum school-age care must be provided by the district or school and will be for school age children between the ages of 12 and under.

Children of critical Tier 1 workers will be cared for at no cost to them during typical school hours. Our hope is to be able to provide additional opportunities during the day including before and after school, which may result in families being able to do this via a fee.

Again some of that will depend on things such as finding space.

Tier 1 workers included in the state’s order who we will be providing childcare – no matter what during the school day free of charge – include healthcare and public health officials, law-enforcement, public safety and first responders, food and agriculture, members of the judicial branch, members the national guard activated under the Governor's executive order, educators in school staff providing in-person instruction for caring for children of critical workers.

More information will be on our website, which is where you will find a number of great updates. We have provided information, answers to frequently asked questions, and old communications remain there. There are also opportunities for you to submit questions, and we will always get back to you in a timely manner.

We are grateful for the partnership, and continue to provide information that is needed and required for you to make a decision - similar to the decisions around the parent survey. (A reminder that) all parents will have the opportunity to complete a survey related to distance learning and whether they choose that model or not.

We will relay the details of all the instructional models the week of August 17.

Again thank you for being part of ISD 728. Thank you for working with us. And thank you for helping us navigate a return to learning during this international pandemic

END
August 4, 2020: Clarification Regarding the Distance Learning Survey

Thank you for your continued engagement and support as we work to navigate the COVID-19 Pandemic together. This communication is intended to provide some additional details about the Distance Learning Survey and the timelines for parent/guardian decisions.

The initial survey was meant to find out who wanted distance learning regardless of whether other options were available. I could and should have communicated that better and differently. Having information about each of the models before making a decision is a reasonable request and thus will happen for all families. I appreciate the feedback given and remain committed to engaging and supporting our families to the best of our ability.

Some details about the various models, as well as other important topics related to COVID 19, are available on the FAQ tab at www.isd728.org/COVID-19. Specific and final instructional model details will be available and communicated during the week of August 17, 2020 once we have more information.

Again, parents/guardians will have the opportunity to indicate their preference after the details are provided.

Below are some frequently asked questions related to the survey:

Will I be able to select the Distance Learning Model after the August 9 deadline and after I know more of the details regarding the other models?

Yes. Parents will be given the opportunity to select Distance Learning after information about the various models are released the Week of August 17.

If I don’t want to commit to Distance Learning until I know what the District models look like, what do I do?

Wait. If you are not ready to commit to Distance Learning, we would recommend you wait and not complete the survey. Once the details for each instructional model are finalized and communicated, families will have the opportunity to make a final informed decision.

If you have already completed the survey at this time, don’t worry. The form is able to be edited after completion. If you revisit the link from the same browser and device used in your previous submission you will be able to edit your answers to resubmit.

If I select Distance Learning now but hear on August 21 that the building is using a Hybrid Model, can we switch back?

Yes, however, we would prefer you not select Distance Learning unless you are sure you want it, as parent choice will impact initial staffing, transportation, and food service decisions. Once the details for each instructional model are finalized and communicated, families will have the opportunity to make an informed decision.

Again, thank you for being part of ISD 728, we appreciate your involvement and patience as we work to provide the very best options for our children and families.

Sincerely,

Dr. Daniel Bittman
ISD 728 Superintendent
July 31, 2020: Message from the Superintendent: Additional Back to School Information
Thank you for the continued feedback, support and engagement as we navigate the Governor's Back to School Guidance received yesterday, July 30, 2020. We want to reassure you that whichever model we implement, our top priority is to educate, inspire, and empower all learners in a safe environment.

Overnight, we have received many questions and/or comments about Back to School. Most of the questions and/or comments are related to:

The desire of ISD 728 families to have their children back in school

Whether the District can make decisions sooner than August 21, 2020

Whether the District must use county data to make the instructional model decision?

What information the District can provide about each instructional model (Face-to-Face, Hybrid, Distance Learning)

Requirements for students regarding masks, and/or face coverings?

Whether there be sports and/or activities?

The purpose of this communication is to provide more information about each topic.

The desire to ISD 728 families to have their children back in school

The majority of ISD 728 families have communicated they want their children back in school face-to-face.

ISD 728 has also expressed that it wants to have students back in school.

Unfortunately, the Department of Health has determined it is not safe for all learners in ISD 728 to receive Face-to-Face instruction at this time. They are basing that decision on local, county data within the school district.

The Governor’s Order requires the Department of Health’s approval, and thus, ISD 728 may not implement a Face-to-Face Model at this time.

Can the District make decisions sooner than August 21, 2020?

Yes, the District could announce a decision sooner. However, current data does not allow ISD 728 to provide face-to-face instruction for the entire District. The only legal option ISD 728 has at this point is to declare a more restrictive model, which would be Hybrid or Distance Learning for all. This outcome would not align with our preference of being back in school and face-to-face. Therefore, we want to wait until August 21, 2020 to make a decision, which is the last possible date allowed under the Governor’s Order and the date in which we will have the most up-to-date information, in hope that we will be allowed to have more face-to-face instruction in our schools to start the year.

Does the District have to use county data to make instructional model decisions?

The Department of Health has determined it is not safe for all learners in ISD 728 to receive Face-to-Face instruction at this time. They are basing that decision on local, county data within the school district.

Districts must have the approval from the Department of Health to use an instructional model (Face-to-Face or Hybrid) that is different from the one supported by the county data.

Minnesota school districts are unable to select what data they want to use and what data they do not want to use. Additionally, districts can not average the data from different counties.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) indicated schools are to use data from the county with the highest number of cases to make the decision, and may choose a more restrictive instructional model if desired. Again, if a decision is based on different data, it must be approved by the Department of Health and Commissioner. ISD 728 has not been given permission or approval to do so.

Finally, guidance states, “School districts must adhere to the health requirements and recommendations in the MDH 2020-21 Planning Guidance” and that “the education commissioner retains statutory authority to order the transition from in-person instruction to a distance learning model if it is determined – after consultation with MDH – that in-person instruction is no longer safe due to concerns related to COVID-19.”

In summary:

The Department of Health has determined it is not safe for all learners in ISD 728 to receive Face-to-Face instruction at this time

ISD 728 has not been given authority or permission to implement a Face-to-Face Model for all learners

ISD is hopeful that data obtained closer to the start of school will allow for more Face-to-Face instruction

We will continue to work with the State and Department of Health to explore the safest and best options for our families

What information can the District provide about each instructional model (Face-to-Face, Hybrid, Distance Learning)?

Specific details about each model will be dependent on such things as the ability to transport students, the number of families who choose to have their children transported, the instructional model mandated by the Governor’s Executive Order, the number of families who choose Distance Learning for their child(ren) etc.

The District is collecting family intentions for Distance Learning now. We will communicate specific information on the model details in ISD 728 during the week of August 17, 2020. However, here is some information we can share today about each instructional model:

Full Time Distance Learning Option

As we have previously shared with families, you may opt into the ISD 728 Distance Learning Model if you would prefer a full time distance learning option, regardless of what other learning model may be in place.

Learners who opt into the Distance Learning Model will:

Be organized by grade level/course when possible by building/class

Engage in synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (flexible) learning activities

Participate in meetings with teachers in the appropriate licensure area

Have opportunities to interact with other students from the same building/class as much as possible

Meet all grade/content learning standards and graduation requirements

Demonstrate learning through multiple pathways

Please Note: The 2020 Distance Learning Model will be different than the model used last spring in many ways. For example, there will be daily interactions between students and teachers, and grade level expectations will be the same as in the traditional Face-to-Face Model.

If you would like to opt your learner into the ISD 728 Distance Learning Model, you may do so at www.isd728.org/20-21-DistanceLearning and have until Sunday, August 9, at 11:59 p.m.

By selecting Distance Learning by the August 9, 2020 deadline, a Parent/Guardian is guaranteed a spot within the ISD 728 District’s Distance Learning Program for their child(ren) and is committed to participating in this model until at least November 19, 2020. By having this information and commitment, ISD 728 will be better able to plan for and address staffing, transportation, and food service needs for all learners.

If Parents/Guardians of children participating in the Distance Learning Model are interested at some point in their child(ren) returning to a Face-to-Face Model after November 19, 2020, they will be given that opportunity if onsite, face-to-face instruction is allowed.

Hybrid Model

In a Hybrid Model, learners are expected to receive instruction from teachers every day of the week in either a distance or in-person format. Learners will have opportunities to engage with staff on a daily basis to support learning. Like the Distance Model, learners participating in the Hybrid Model will:

Be organized by grade level/course when possible by building/class

Engage in synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (flexible) learning activities

Participate with teachers in the appropriate licensure area

Have opportunities to interact with other students from the same building/class as much as possible

Meet all grade/content learning standards and graduation requirements

Demonstrate learning through multiple pathways

In addition, ISD 728 will follow MDH guidance and the MDE guidance including, but not limited to the following:

Limit building occupancy to no more that 50% with sufficient room for social distancing:

Signage to reinforce social distancing used throughout the building

Flow of traffic into and through the building will be designed around social distancing

Visitor/Parent access to schools will be limited

Limit room occupancy to no more than 50% with sufficient room for social distancing:

High frequency touch points will be sanitized throughout the day

Spaces will be sanitized each night

Rooms will be organized for social distancing

Limit transportation occupancy to no more than 50%:

High frequency touch points will be sanitized between routes

A deep cleaning of all surfaces will take place daily

Students from the same family will be seated together

Cohorts and Time Onsite

In the Hybrid Model, ISD 728 will limit the mixing of students to the best of its ability and thus, work to create cohorts (groups of students) that are consistent. When the Distance Learning survey is complete, we will be able to finalize the members for each cohort. In this Model, families/households would be placed on the same schedule, and individual learning, transportation, and the health needs would be considered when assigning learners to a cohort. ISD 728 will not be able to accommodate requests to change cohorts.

What can you tell us about requirements related to students, masks, and/or face coverings?

Governor's Executive Order 20-81 requires all Minnesotans to wear a face covering in all indoor businesses and public indoor spaces, unless alone. This includes times on a school bus and/or van. According to the Order:

Face coverings include a paper or disposable face mask, a cloth face mask, a scarf, a bandana, a neck gaiter, or a religious face covering

Individuals with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that makes it unreasonable for the individual to maintain a face covering are exempt

Children 5 years old and under who are not in Kindergarten yet are not required to wear a face shield or face covering, and children under two should never wear a face covering due to the risk of suffocation

Kindergarten through grade 12 schools must comply with face covering and face shield guidance

Face coverings may be removed:

When participating in organized sports in an indoor business or indoor public space while the level of exertion makes it difficult to wear a face covering.

When exercising, while the level of exertion makes it difficult to wear a face covering, provided that social distancing is always maintained.

During practices or performances in an indoor business or indoor public space when a face covering cannot be used while playing a musical instrument, provided that social distancing is always maintained.

During activities, such as swimming or showering, where the face covering will get wet.

When eating or drinking in an indoor business or indoor public space, provided that at least 6 feet of physical distance is maintained between persons who are not members of the same party.

When asked to remove a face covering to verify an identity for lawful purposes.

While communicating with an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing or has a disability, medical condition, or mental health condition that makes communication with that individual while wearing a face covering difficult, provided that social distancing is maintained to the extent possible between persons who are not members of the same household.

While receiving a service—including a dental examination or procedure, medical examination or procedure, or personal care service.

When an individual is alone, including when alone in an office, a room, a cubicle with walls that are higher than face level when social distancing is maintained.

Will there be sports and/or activities?

The Minnesota State High School League has the authority to make decisions about sports and/or activities for all Minnesota school districts. The League’s Board is expected to make its decision on Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

Sincerely,
Dr. Daniel Bittman
ISD 728 Superintendent

July 30, 2020: Message from the Superintendent: Back to School Announcement

Dear Parents and Community Members:

This communication is meant to provide you with information about:

The Governor’s Back to School Executive Order and its Impact on ISD 728
How instructional model (Face-to-Face, Hybrid, Distance Learning) decisions will be made within schools and/or the school district
The opportunity to participate in the new, updated ISD 728 Distance Learning Model
Required Survey for All Families (Deadline - August 9, 2020)
Important Upcoming Dates and Information

The Governor’s Back to School Opening Executive Order and its Impact on ISD 728
As you likely know, Governor Tim Walz announced today Executive Order 20-82 that school districts across Minnesota will work collaboratively with County Health Officials to determine how to provide instruction to start the 2020-2021 school year based on specific county-level data.

How Instructional Model (Face-to-Face, Hybrid, Distance Learning) Decisions will be Made Within Schools and/or the School District
ISD 728 serves children from five (5) different counties, which makes decision making extremely complex. While it is the intent and desire of ISD 728 to have students back in-person in our classrooms while providing an option for students to participate in distance learning, the Executive Order states “School districts MUST adhere to parameters set forth in the Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 School Year in implementing the three instructional models (p. 2).”

To make the determination, the Minnesota Department of Health provided a bi-weekly case rate (over 14 days) by county since May 31, 2020 today, as well as the parameters for when all school districts must utilize a Face-to-Face Model, versus a Hybrid or Distance Learning Model (See Chart Below).

Department of Health Parameters

Number of cases per 10,000 over 14 days, by county of residence	Learning Model Recommended
0-9	In-person learning for all students
10-19	In-person learning for early childhood and elementary students; hybrid learning for secondary students
20-29	Hybrid learning for all students
30-49	Hybrid learning for early childhood and elementary students; distance learning for secondary students
50+	Distance learning for all students

It is ISD 728’s intent to provide Face-to-Face instruction, but the current county data does not support or allow this decision. As a result, ISD 728 will wait for the most up-to-date information to make its final determination. Unfortunately, the Department of Health will not release this information until August 20, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. We recognize how inconvenient this late deadline is for families and apologize for the inconvenience.

The Department of Health data will dictate what instructional model ISD 728 must use. ISD 728 will communicate the data and instructional model to all families on August 21, 2020. In the meantime, all families will have the option to choose the new, updated Distance Learning Model for their child(ren).

The instructional model may change throughout the year based on the circumstances of each individual school, County and/or the District if the number of cases increases and warrants a different outcome.

For specific information related to some of the efforts being made within the school district, please refer to the ISD 728 COVID 19 Plan, which is currently available on the District’s Website.

Opportunity to Participate in the Distance Learning Model
Families who do not feel comfortable having their children attend school on campus will not be required to do so and may choose to have their child participate in the new, updated ISD 728 Distance Learning Program during the 2020-2021 school year.

Please Note: The 2020 Distance Learning Model will be different than the model used last spring in many ways. For example, there will be daily interactions between students and teachers, and grade level expectations will be the same as in the traditional Face-to-Face Model.

Required Survey for All Families (Deadline - August 9, 2020)
All ISD 728 families must indicate their preference about whether they would like to have their child(ren) participate in the new, updated District’s Distance Learning Model for the 2020-2021 school year at www.isd728.org/20-21-DistanceLearning, and will have until August 9, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. to indicate their preference. One survey submission per family is required.

By selecting Distance Learning by the August 9, 2020 deadline, a Parent/Guardian is guaranteed a spot within the ISD 728 District’s Distance Learning Program for their child(ren) and is committed to participating in this model until at least November 19, 2020. By having this information and commitment, ISD 728 will be better able to plan for and address staffing, transportation, and food service needs for all learners.

If Parents/Guardians of children participating in the Distance Learning Model are interested at some point in their child(ren) returning to a Face-to-Face Model after November 19, 2020, they will be given that opportunity if onsite, face-to-face instruction is allowed.

Again, we are asking ALL families to complete this survey by August 9, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. If a Parent/Guardian is NOT interested in the Distance Learning Option for their child(ren), they will be able to indicate they are not interested and the survey will be complete. However, for families who select the Distance Learning Option, we will use this information for planning and communication purposes.

Important Upcoming Dates and Information

August 9, 2020: Due date for the Parent/ Guardian Distance Learning Model Survey
August 17, 2020: ISD 728 will share how it will implement the three models within our schools
August 21, 2020: ISD 728 will share county data and the instructional model to be used by school and/or within the District

Finally, ISD 728 will continue to provide you with additional information as it becomes available. The most up-to-date information about COVID - 19 and ISD 728 is available on the District’s website at www.isd728.org, which includes information about parent survey results, the Governor’s most recent Executive Order 20-82, answers to frequently asked questions, all current and past district wide communications with students and families, ways to contact the District www.isd728.org/contact, and much more.

The past several months have been an incredibly challenging time for the entire ISD 728 community. I want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we have navigated this unprecedented situation together. We look forward to seeing our students again soon, and are grateful to be part of your journey.

Sincerely,

Dr. Daniel Bittman,
ISD 728 Superintendent

July 17, 2020: VIDEO: ISD 728 Superintendent Update – July 2020

MDE Updates

August 18, 2020

Notification: COVID-19 Updates web page

August 18, 2020

Document updated: Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 School Year

School-age Care
Appendix B: Critical Worker Definitions

Document updated: 2020-21 Planning Guidance for Minnesota Public Schools

School-Age Care & Child Care Programs in Schools
Home Visits
Early Learning
Appendix A: Critical Worker Definitions

New document added: Early Care and Education Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions for the 2020-21 School Year

New document added: School-Age Care Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions for the 2020-21 School Year

Sub-pages updated: Resources have been added or updated on the following pages:

Learn more: visit the COVID-19 Updates web page

July 30, 2020

Notification: COVID-19 Updates web page

July 30, 2020

Main COVID-19 Updates page text updated: COVID-19 Updates

On July 30, Governor Tim Walz signed Executive Order 20-82 to implement Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 School Year. This plan uses a localized, data-driven approach that allows school districts and charter schools to operate in a learning model that is responsive the prevalence of COVID-19 cases in their community. The plan prioritizes safe learning for all Minnesota students, including requiring school districts and charter schools to give families the option to choose distance learning for their student no matter which learning model their school is implementing.

New document added: Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 School Year

Document updated: 2020-21 Planning Guidance for Minnesota Public Schools

Learn more: visit the COVID-19 Updates web page

July 23, 2020

Notification: COVID-19 Updates web page

July 23, 2020

Main COVID-19 Updates page text updated: COVID-19 Updates

On July 30, we will join Governor Walz and the Minnesota Department of Health to share Minnesota’s strategy to educate students and keep communities healthy during the 2020-21 school year.

Document updated: 2020-21 Planning Guidance for Minnesota Public Schools

Transportation

Learn more: visit the COVID-19 Updates web page

Family Size	Monthly Income	Yearly Income
2	$3,950	$47,410
3	$4,977	$59,730
4	$6,004	$72,050
5	$7,030	$84,370

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Back to School 2020-2021

LATEST NEWS

COVID-19 Rates in Wright County Increase, Possibly Impacting Instructional Model at Three Schools

Free Meals Returning for ISD 728 Students

August 21, 2020: Back to School Announcement

2020-2021 Back to School Plan

IMPORTANT DATES

October 30, 2020

November 6, 2020

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

COVID-19 Attendance Guide for Parents and Families

School Self-Screening Checklist

Parent Guidance for the 2020-2021 School Year

Food Service

Back to School Parent Portal Information

Student Devices (Chromebooks)

Back to School Plan/Learning Models

100% Distance Learning Option

Health Guidelines/Information

Transportation

Frequently Asked Questions

Submit a Question

Student Face Covering Guide

COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

Child Care

Minnesota Safe Learning Plan for 2020-2021

Data for K-12 Schools: 14-day COVID-19 Case Rate by County

Resources/Links

Email Updates to Families

September 15, 2020: Free Meals Returning for ISD 728 Students

September 14, 2020: COVID-19 Rates in Wright County Increase, Possibly Impacting Instructional Model at Hassan, Otsego, and Prairie View Elementary

September 3, 2020: Important Information: Food Service & Insurance

September 2, 2020: Bus Transportation Verification

August 21, 2020: Message from the Superintendent: Back to School

August 20, 2020: Important Health, Face Covering and Transportation Information

August 17, 2020: Message from the Superintendent: 2020-2021 Back to School Plan

August 6, 2020: VIDEO: ISD 728 Superintendent Update: August 2020

August 4, 2020: Clarification Regarding the Distance Learning Survey

July 31, 2020: Message from the Superintendent: Additional Back to School Information

July 30, 2020: Message from the Superintendent: Back to School Announcement

July 17, 2020: VIDEO: ISD 728 Superintendent Update – July 2020

MDE Updates

August 18, 2020

Notification: COVID-19 Updates web page

August 18, 2020

July 30, 2020

Notification: COVID-19 Updates web page

July 30, 2020

July 23, 2020

Notification: COVID-19 Updates web page

July 23, 2020