Minnesota K-12 schools will be allowed to open their doors to students starting this summer. That means summer school, day camps, and district-based child care have the green light to open — so long as they meet public health guidelines and maintain physical distancing. And students enrolled in summer school will partake in a hybrid model of in-person and distance learning.The recommend school districts and charters offer in-person options starting in late June, but allow them to begin these sorts of programs as soon as the end of each district’s traditional school year.  “By...…Minnesota K-12 schools will be allowed to open their doors to students starting this summer. That means summer school, day camps, and district-based child care have the green light to open — so long as they meet public health guidelines and maintain physical distancing. And students enrolled in summer school will partake in a hybrid model of in-person and distance learning.The recommend school districts and charters offer in-person options starting in late June, but allow them to begin these sorts of programs as soon as the end of each district’s traditional school year.  “By...WW…

The first death threat that Ashley Weller and her family received was rolled up in the handles of their front door at 8:30 a.m. Monday. “When our son opened the front door, the note fell out,” said Ashley. “It was incredibly threatening.”The note was about the Black Lives Matter signs in their yard: “Your neighbors have grown sick of your [expletive] riots and [expletive] matters signs. Remove them or we torch your home and cars real quiet with lighter fluid while you sleep.”An hour later, they found another note: “You [expletive] want a war you will get them.” As law enforcement...…The first death threat that Ashley Weller and her family received was rolled up in the handles of their front door at 8:30 a.m. Monday. “When our son opened the front door, the note fell out,” said Ashley. “It was incredibly threatening.”The note was about the Black Lives Matter signs in their yard: “Your neighbors have grown sick of your [expletive] riots and [expletive] matters signs. Remove them or we torch your home and cars real quiet with lighter fluid while you sleep.”An hour later, they found another note: “You [expletive] want a war you will get them.” As law enforcement...WW…

St. Francis schools Superintendent Beth Giese has been getting up early to ride buses this week. The district is short-staffed and needs special education assistants on morning commutes. Her secretary has been doing similar work, riding in a school van. “I have never worked this hard in my entire life,” Giese said. “You never know when you’re going to be contact tracing at 11 p.m. at night or riding school buses because someone tested positive.”This is just one example of the random and unexpected disruptions Giese and her staff have faced this year. The terrain of constantly...…St. Francis schools Superintendent Beth Giese has been getting up early to ride buses this week. The district is short-staffed and needs special education assistants on morning commutes. Her secretary has been doing similar work, riding in a school van. “I have never worked this hard in my entire life,” Giese said. “You never know when you’re going to be contact tracing at 11 p.m. at night or riding school buses because someone tested positive.”This is just one example of the random and unexpected disruptions Giese and her staff have faced this year. The terrain of constantly...WW…

Just 10 days after bringing some students back for in-person learning, an outbreak of COVID-19 among transportation workers has forced Bloomington Public Schools to return to distance learning until mid-February. The changes underscore the unique challenges to protect bus drivers, many of whom are older and at higher risk of severe illness stemming from the virus. District officials say concerns about student and staff health during the COVID-19 pandemic led to this difficult decision.“We want nothing more than for our students and staff to be in schools learning safely,”...…Just 10 days after bringing some students back for in-person learning, an outbreak of COVID-19 among transportation workers has forced Bloomington Public Schools to return to distance learning until mid-February. The changes underscore the unique challenges to protect bus drivers, many of whom are older and at higher risk of severe illness stemming from the virus. District officials say concerns about student and staff health during the COVID-19 pandemic led to this difficult decision.“We want nothing more than for our students and staff to be in schools learning safely,”...WW…