Roseville Area Schools and Rising Positive Cases of COVID-19

October 31, 2020

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Hello Roseville Area Schools families!
This message contains important information on a number of topics, including:
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Rising positive cases of COVID-19 in Ramsey County


Good morning Roseville Area Schools community,
This week, the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) official numbers for positive case counts per 10,000 residents reached 31 in Ramsey County. State guidance in August placed a threshold of 30 cases per 10,000 residents as the point where secondary students would be required to learn exclusively from home. This development obviously puts into doubt our current plan to transition secondary students into blended learning in December.
Metro districts with secondary students attending in blended learning models are now facing an urgent decision on shifting back to distance learning. We are in active communication with the regional support team of experts from the MDH and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) who are providing guidance and consultation to schools across the state. Another aspect that we are seeking clarity on is when athletics and activities may be required to discontinue. 
This week, school districts received communication from MDE that we must continue to work with their regional support team but should also consider local data to better understand how community rates of COVID-19 cases impact the local schools.
Most public health experts do not anticipate the numbers to go down, as we enter flu season and colder temperatures when people are more apt to congregate. The state's summer guidance stated that when county positive COVID-19 case rate reaches 50 per 10,000 residents, that would trigger full-distance learning for elementary students. While the county case rates are one of several factors we look at, they are an important indicator of the spread of the virus within our community. 
We understand how important it is make decisions that will best meet the needs of our students, families and staff – their health and safety needs, their educational needs, and their social and emotional needs. While we seek additional guidance from the state, we ask that you continue to remember that we all need to be flexible and ready to adjust on short notice to the public health challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic is placing on us all.
Please stay tuned for additional information about our transition plans in the coming week.
Dr. Aldo Sicoli
Superintendent

No school on Election Day Tuesday, November 3


Remember that Tuesday, Nov. 3—Election Day—is a teacher workshop day in Roseville Area Schools. There will be no school on Tuesday!
For information on how to vote and voting locations, visit Ramsey County's Elections and Voting webpage.

FAQ: How does the district decide on a learning model?


There are a number of factors we will consider when determining if/when it is safe to transition to blended or in-person learning, including:
  • The number of positive COVID-19 cases per 10,000 residents in Ramsey County.
  • Consultation with local and state public health officials, and our health services staff on the effects and transmissibility of COVID-19 on various age groups of students.
  • Our own health and safety experiences reopening, as well as observations of other local and national school reopenings.
  • Our capability to adequately serve students who choose Distance Learning Academy and blended learning models.
  • Feedback from families, staff and students through our advisory committees, testimony to the board, and through other channels such as emails, surveys and phone calls. 
Find answers to other frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and our schools on our COVID-19 FAQ page

Check for COVID-19 symptoms before coming to school 


All students that come to school must be healthy and have no symptoms that may be related to COVID-19. We need the help of families to make sure their students are well enough to attend school so that school is a safe environment for everyone.
Download this simple tool to help you determine each day if your student or any family member should stay home from school:
This daily screening tool helps you decide if you should go to a school building each day. MDH has provided guidance for schools, including a flow chart when a student or staff member is experiencing the following symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Our screening tool is based on this flow chart, which is also available from the state:
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