News for April 15, 2021

Learning Model Update
Secondary Learning Models to Remain in Place as Cases Rise
As elementary schools prepared for what will hopefully be the last learning model transition of the year next Monday, our secondary staff at Roseville Area Middle School (RAMS), Parkview Center, Roseville Area High School (RAHS) and Fairview Alternative High School (FAHS) looked closely at options for switching to a one-cohort model where students are in-person four days a week.
Unfortunately, with COVID-19 case rates at their highest point since the peaks in November, we’ve determined that changing to one cohort for secondary grades would be unwise. District staff met with the state’s Regional Support Team this week, a group of public health officials who advise districts during the pandemic, and they felt our decision was prudent. They have seen a number of districts that have made such a change switch back to blended learning models, causing further disruption to teaching and learning. The potential benefit of 12 additional days in-person is offset by the likely increase in students and staff entering quarantine or isolation from COVID-19 exposures in buildings.
Beginning April 29, students at FAHS will have the option of additional in-person learning on Thursdays.
Staying Healthy This Spring
What we All Can do to Stay Healthy
Since returning from spring break, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in our schools is on the rise. Health experts say a new variant of COVID-19 is making the rounds through Minnesota and is proving to spread faster and infect younger people than previous strains of the virus.
We need your help to keep everyone safe and our schools open!
  • If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or have any symptoms, please stay home. 
  • If you or someone in your household is sick with COVID-like symptoms, please stay home from school and all activities and get everyone in your household tested. 
  • Continue to wear masks in public, avoid large crowds, and wash your hands often.
  • Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends that all school-age youthand their families—get tested for COVID-19 every two weeks through the end of the school year even, if they don't have symptoms.
  • Families can find locations for free COVID-19 testing on MDH’s website.
COVID-19 By the Numbers
COVID-19 Dashboard is Valuable Resource
Have you visited our district COVID-19 Dashboard? There you will find the latest data on positive COVID-19 cases in our district, and learn how many students and staff are unable to be teaching or learning in-person because they are in isolation or quarantine due to exposure to someone with a lab-confirmed case. The latest number of students in isolation/quarantine (435) is almost twice the number experienced during the peaks of the pandemic in November 2020, while the number of staff in quarantine/isolation remains relatively low. This is likely because of the vaccine having been available to educators. 
The dashboard is updated weekly on Fridays with data from the week prior.
Roseville Area Schools COVID-19 Dashboard
Calendar Update for Next Year
First Day of School Pushed Back One Day
The first day of next school year happens to fall on the first full day of Rosh Hashanah. The school board recently approved changing Tuesday, Sept. 7, to a non-classroom day, and the start of the school year will push back by one day. Friday, December 3, 2021, will become a school day for Harambee Elementary (no workshop day for Harambee Elementary staff) and Friday, February 11, 2022, will become a school day (no workshop day for staff) for all schools except Harambee Elementary.
Finance Update
Did you Know?
The Roseville Area School Board has not asked voters to increase our school district’s locally approved operating levy since 2006, in order to live within our means and only go to voters when necessary. As a result, our per-student levy is lower than most neighboring and comparable school districts. Operating levies provide locally approved funding to support school operations, classroom materials, teachers and other staff.
Our district has one of the lowest voter-approved operating levies of neighboring and comparable school districts, giving us less funding to support our schools, staff and students.
Our current operating levy will expire if not renewed by voters in November 2021, which would result in a loss of $8 million per year, or nearly 8% of our operating budget. Learn more about our Financial Forecast. View the March 30 presentation to the school board about the levy.
News From Around the District
Brimhall Poets
Students in Ms. Wassell's sixth grade class at Brimhall Elementary recently wrote poems. These three were inspired by William Carlos Williams. Click on the photos to enlarge and read the poem!
Edgditerod  Mush!
Students at Edgerton took part in the annual Edgditerod to celebrate reading the book "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen, an autobiographical book about Gary Paulsen's experiences with dog sledding in northern Minnesota and the Iditarod, an annual long-distance sled dog race held in Alaska. 
School Nutrition
All meals will continue to be offered free of charge through September 30, 2021
New Pickup Schedule Starting April 19
Seven days of breakfast, lunch, and snacks can be picked up at the following sites free-of-charge all school year. Children do not have to be present, just pull up, let us know how many children age 18 and under are in your household, and let us know if you need milk. It's that easy!
  • Mondays: Roseville Area High School 10 – 11 a.m.
  • Tuesdays: Roseville Area Middle School 4 – 6 p.m.*
  • Wednesdays: Roseville Area High School 4 – 6 p.m.*
  • Thursdays: Roseville Area Middle School 10 – 11 a.m.
*Roseville Family Table meals will now be offered through the end of the school year at our evening pick-up windows. We are so grateful to Second Harvest Heartland, Minnesota Central Kitchen, and the generous donors who made this possible.
Pasta and meatballs were a recent hit at Edgerton Elementary.
Smiles all around when it's lunchtime in Roseville Area Schools!
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