one COMMUNITY Welcome Back! As we start this school year, the feeling of excitement and hope is even greater than it is in a normal school year. Nothing since March has been normal and I am sure that, like me, you are looking for a little bit of normalcy. The Austin School District has been working hard to develop plans to first make sure all our stu- dents and staff are safe. To accomplish this, we will be following the guidelines stated in the Fall School Opening Executive Order. Even with these guidelines, there are a lot of questions that remain. However, in partnership with our local Mower County Community Health Depart- ment, Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Department of Education, we will find the answers for our questions and the procedures needed to address them. This document is intended to provide you with information on how we will return to school to- gether in Austin. I am proud of the work our teams have completed to prepare for numerous opening scenarios. I appreciate the feedback we have received from families and students who completed our surveys and taken our phone calls as this feedback has been invaluable in working to address concerns. The following plan is both detailed and flexible. Flexibility is key as we implement our plans, as we know how quickly things can change. I want to remind everyone that even as we use this document as our current guide, the situation may change quickly. We have learned a lot over the last months, from our move to Distance Learning in the spring, the opening of Sumner and Woodson in late July, and from our survey feedback. We are using all that we have learned (and will learn) to guide us over the next several months, to strengthen and adjust our plans to better serve our students and families. We will do everything we can to make sure the year ahead is safe, academically engaging and a positive experience for everyone. Sincerely, Superintendent David M. Krenz http://austin.k12.mn.us
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oneCOMMUNITY
Welcome Back! As we start this school year, the feeling of excitement and hope is even greater than it is in a
normal school year. Nothing since March has been normal and I am sure that, like me, you are
looking for a little bit of normalcy.
The Austin School District has been working hard to develop plans to first make sure all our stu-
dents and staff are safe. To accomplish this, we will be following the guidelines stated in the
Fall School Opening Executive Order. Even with these guidelines, there are a lot of questions
that remain. However, in partnership with our local Mower County Community Health Depart-
ment, Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Department of Education, we will
find the answers for our questions and the procedures needed to address them.
This document is intended to provide you with information on how we will return to school to-
gether in Austin. I am proud of the work our teams have completed to prepare for numerous
opening scenarios. I appreciate the feedback we have received from families and students
who completed our surveys and taken our phone calls as this feedback has been invaluable in
working to address concerns.
The following plan is both detailed and flexible. Flexibility is key as we implement our plans, as
we know how quickly things can change. I want to remind everyone that even as we use this
document as our current guide, the situation may change quickly. We have learned a lot over
the last months, from our move to Distance Learning in the spring, the opening of Sumner and
Woodson in late July, and from our survey feedback. We are using all that we have learned
(and will learn) to guide us over the next several months, to strengthen and adjust our plans to
better serve our students and families.
We will do everything we can to make sure the year ahead is safe, academically engaging
and a positive experience for everyone.
Sincerely,
Superintendent David M. Krenz
http://austin.k12.mn.us
At A Glance
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• We have been reviewing the MDE Safe Learn-
ing Plan for 2020-2021 since July 30, 2020. At
this time, the Austin Public Schools base learn-
ing model will be in-person learning for grades
Pre-K through 6 and Hybrid Learning for grades
7 through 12. Learn more about how this deci-
sion was made on page 4.
• Students who are not ready or able to physi-
cally return to school in person or using the Hy-
brid learning model may register for the Elect-
ed Distance Learning model (see page 9). The
Elected Distance Learning model is a one
quarter, online-only commitment.
• Transportation will be available for all eligible
students, as in previous years, in both the In-
Person and Hybrid Learning models. Palmer
Bus will communicate directly with families the
details of bus stops and pickup/drop-off times.
• Meals will be available throughout the school
year, regardless of learning model.
• Parents/guardians will be required to conduct a
daily health screening before sending their child
to school. See page 15 for more information.
• We are committed to numerous virus mitigation
tactics inside our facilities. Learn more on page
12.
• COVID-19 and the resulting global health crisis
remains a fluid situation. The district will re-
evaluate contingency plans for how each of
the three learning models works and make any
significant changes every two weeks when the
updated case numbers are released.
• High school Girls Tennis; Boys and Girls Cross
Country; Boys and Girls Soccer; and Girls Swim-
ming and Diving began on August 17. Football
and Girls Volleyball will be delayed until a spring
season. There will be changes to competitive
schedules and detailed protocols shared by
coaches. Information regarding the status of
middle school fall sports and activities will begin
August 24, 2020.
Guiding Priorities
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Safety of students and staff is our top priority
Austin Public Schools’ COVID-19 Task Force has
worked to develop a COVID-19 Preparedness
Plan. This documents the health and safety re-
quirements all schools will follow. The full plan will
be posted on our website.
• All K-12 students and all staff must wear a mask
or a face shield
• Frequent handwashing
• Cleaning and disinfecting protocol
• Monitoring personal health - anyone with
symptoms needs to stay home
• Social Distancing as per MDE guidelines for
each scenario
Learning priorities Used to Develop Model
In response to the state’s charge, a team of district,
school, and teacher leaders used feedback from
stakeholder surveys conducted this summer to de-
velop a learning model that can flex to provide
more or less time in school, depending on the sce-
nario. The draft model incorporates the following
priorities:
• Provide as much time in school as possible
• Pre-K through 6th grade students should be in
school every school day, if possible
• Students receiving EL services and those with
the most significant special education needs
should be provided with opportunities to attend
at the school site more frequently in a hybrid
model
• Students in grades 7 through high school should
be in school at least two days each week
• Limit disruption to the smallest number of stu-
dents and families possible
• Improve distance learning and prepare all stu-
dents to learn remotely, if necessary
• Provide a full-time distance learning option for
students at all grades
As we embark on the 2020–21 school year, we strive to create a seamless system of instruction and services
that meets the needs of every learner, regardless of the scenario.
The guiding priorities below are intended to provide a vision for the instructional framework developed by
schools. These are used to inform decisions that will be made when the inevitable unanticipated situations
arise.
THE austin PUBLIC SCHOOLS GUIDING Priorities ARE:
learning Models
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Earlier this summer, the Minnesota Department of
Education (MDE) and Minnesota Department of
Health (MDH) provided guidance to school dis-
tricts to prepare for three potential learning mod-
els during the 2020–21 school year. The learning
models are:
In-Person Hybrid Distance Learning
Since that time, MDE has released the Safe Learn-
ing Plan for 2020–21 which provides additional
guidance. The Safe Learning Plan outlines an ap-
proach to determine a recommended learning
model based on new COVID-19 cases per 10,000
over 14 days by county of residence. In addition to
the number of cases, other factors are considered
such as the district’s ability to follow MDE and MDH
safety guidelines and having enough staff to oper-
ate the school.
Ultimately, the learning model for each school is
determined by the school district, in consultation
with the Mower County Public Health Department
and driven by the state’s Safe Learning Plan.
After determining the base model for starting the
school year, the district will review bi-weekly data
with the Mower County Public Health Department.
If the data indicates a change in the learning
model is warranted, a regional support committee
composed of MDE, MDH, and the Southeast Ser-
vice Cooperative will advise the district on the
next steps. While the primary driver will be the
number of cases per 10,000 over 14 days at the
county level, other factors will also be considered,
such as specific locations of virus outbreaks associ-
ated with the increase/decrease in cases.
Number of Cases Per 10,000 Over 14 Days By County Of Residence
Recommended Learning Model
0-9 In-Person Learning for all students
10-19 In-Person Learning for elementary students, Hybrid Learning for secondary students
20-29 Hybrid Learning for all students
30-49 Hybrid Learning for elementary students, Distance Learning for secondary students
50+ Distance Learning for all students
learning Models
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DESCRIPTION
The In-Person learning model means all students at
the site will be in school for a traditional school
day. Students will follow a traditional schedule.
Attendance will be taken daily.
SAFETY PROCEDURES
Parents/guardians are required and responsible
for daily screening of COVID-19 symptoms and
agree to keep their child home if they are ill (see
page 15). Parents/guardians will be expected to
report COVID-19 symptoms or exposure to the
school. Late students must report to the main of-
fice in accordance with building procedures.
All staff are required and responsible for daily self-
screening of COVID-19 symptoms and agree to
stay home if they are ill.
Face coverings are required in accordance with
Executive Order 20-81 (see link for exemptions).
The school district will provide one face mask for
each student and one face shield for K–8 students
who request them. Families are expected to en-
sure their child has a clean face covering daily.
School staff will create as much physical spacing
as feasible. Frequent hand-washing and/or hand
sanitization will be encouraged.
If COVID-19 symptoms are reported during the
school day, an isolation process will be implement-
ed.
SCHOOL-AGED CHILD CARE
A fee-based program will be available before and
after school.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation will be available for all eligible stu-
dents, as in previous years. Palmer Bus will com-
municate directly with families the details of bus
stops and pickup/drop-off times.
Face masks or face shields are required to be
worn by the bus driver and all riders. Face shields
are provided for all riders as they enter the bus if
they are not wearing a mask. Attendance will be
taken on each route. Each rider will have as-
signed seating. The bus will be loaded from the
back to the front. A para or aide will be on each
bus route to ensure that riders stay seated and are
wearing their mask or shield. The bus and face
shields will be disinfected after each route.
MEALS
Students will spread out to eat, including limited
physically distanced options within the cafeteria
and/or classrooms. Meals will be prepared on-site.
Meals and beverages served at school will be indi-
vidually packaged, wherever possible. Where indi-
vidual packaging is not possible, food and bever-
ages will be served directly to students.
VISITORS
Nonessential visitors, volunteers and activities in-
volving external groups or organizations will be
restricted, and, in most cases, non-staff are not
allowed in the buildings. Parents will be able to
drop off essential items for their students due to
forgetting them at home (computer, lunch, back-
pack, medication, etc.) in accordance with build-
ing procedures.
AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
High school Girls Tennis, Boys and Girls Cross Country, Boys
and Girls Soccer, and Girls Swimming and Diving began
on August 17. Football and Girls Volleyball will be delayed
until the spring.. There will be changes to competitive
schedules and detailed protocols shared by coaches.
Middle School fall sports and activities will begin August