ISD166 continues with distance learning for most students

Due to rising numbers of COVID-19 in Cook County and community spread of the virus, School District 166 changed course on its plan to implement hybrid learning for 4th- and 5th-grade classes. The school was working with parents on the return to the school campus on November 17. Those students will remain in the distance learning format until further notice.
 

There is no change in the learning model at this time for the kindergarten through 3rd-grade students, who have been in school part of each week since October 22. 
 

That could change, however, depending on county COVID-19 data and regional health care resource capacity. The school's Incident Command Team will be having an ongoing discussion about the learning model over Thanksgiving and the winter holiday break. 
 

In a message to families and the community, Principal Megan Myers wrote, "This is difficult on many levels and our intentions are to keep safety a priority as we navigate this spike in COVID -19 cases in our county, state, and country. "
 

Myers said the school will provide updates as soon as they are available. 
 

Great Expectations School is changing its learning model, at least temporarily, after the Thanksgiving break. When school for GES students resumes on November 30, it will be in the distance learning model. GES expects to continue in the distance learning model until sometime in January. 
 

GES Director Peter James said this is a "preemptive" measure and explained, "This effectively skips us past the hybrid transitions and related disruptions, allowing us to implement a proactive approach to navigate through what is generally expected to be a volatile period for infections (COVID and otherwise)."
 

Birch Grove Community School in Tofte said in its November 12 newsletter that there are no plans at this time to change to a different learning model. Director Diane Blanchette wrote that Birch Grove has been COVID-19 free and if that continues, it is likely the hybrid learning model will continue as well. 
 

Blanchette reminded families to keep following the CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and asked them to "be vigilant" over the holidays. 
 

Oshki Ogimaag in Grand Portage also has no plans to change from its current in-person model for its kindergarten through 6th-grade students.