COVID-19 Response

Minnesota Commissioner of Education Ricker has asked us to use a "scalpel" approach when making decisions regarding learning model changes within buildings in the district. Using this approach, we closely monitor every building in the district on a daily basis to keep our students and staff safe. Learning model decisions are based on several pieces of data, including the 14-day county infection rate averages distributed weekly by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). In addition, recommendations from Steele County Public Health are reviewed and considered.

May 2-May 15
Cases in Steele County: 31.08 per 10,000

May 27
% of COVID-like Symptoms/Confirmed Cases at School Sites:

Lincoln Elementary	0%
McKinley Elementary	1.2%
Washington Elementary	0%
Wilson Elementary	0%
Owatonna Middle School	0.5%
Owatonna High School	0.9%
ALC	0%
Roosevelt	0%

Social distancing, wearing face coverings/masks, washing hands and cleaning protocols have been important to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. When a positive case is reported, families and staff are notified by the school district, MDH or both with information on next steps.

Please do everything you can to help manage the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and community. We understand the difficulties it places on families when students can’t attend school, but it is very important that we continue working together to minimize the potential spread of the disease in school buildings.

Please keep children home:

when they are sick. If you’re not sure whether to send them or not, call the school nurse.
if they are being tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting results.
if someone in your household is sick and is being tested for COVID-19.

Stay informed about current COVID-19 information:

Minnesota Department of Health Current Case Count

Our Safe Learning Plan

Our district leadership team carefully planned for three learning scenarios: in-person learning, hybrid learning, and distance learning. Mapping out safety procedures, sanitizing and disinfection processes, social distancing protocols, teaching and learning tools, transportation planning, protective equipment for staff and students, food service protocols, technology needs, and most importantly how we will continue to build relationships with students and families. All of this planning was coupled with the feedback collected from many parents, students and staff members regarding our plans and how this may impact them.

Based on this work, we developed a safe learning plan that will allow us to shift between learning scenarios as needed while we:

Prioritize the safety of students and staff
Prioritize in-person learning, especially for younger learners
Consider infectiousness and transmission risk among different ages

Thank you for your support, patience, and understanding as we work to provide Owatonna students with the best - and safest - education possible.

General Guidelines

What is COVID-19?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness. It is caused by a new virus. We are learning new things about this virus every day because it is new. The Minnesota Department of Health has been working with partners to slow the spread of COVID-19, but everyone in the state has a part to play to make this happen.

Anyone of any age can get the disease. Some people may get sicker than others. People who are sick with COVID-19 can give it to others, even sometimes when they do not feel sick. Viruses don’t discriminate, so avoid assumptions about who you think may be sick.

Symptoms

Some people who have COVID-19 infection have felt only a little sick. Others got very sick. Some symptoms are:

Cough
Shortness of breath
Fever
Chills
Headache
Muscle pain
Sore throat
Loss of taste or smell

Less often, people may get a stomachache, throw up, or have diarrhea.

The most significant things you can do to protect yourself and your family:

Stay home if you are feeling ill, have a fever of 100 degrees or more, or are exhibiting flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover a cough. Cough or sneeze into an elbow or use a tissue and place immediately in the trash.
Practice "social distancing" by staying at least 6 feet away from people when out in public.

Learn more on the Minnesota Department of Health's website.

How can I help prevent COVID-19 spread?

The District encourages students, staff members and volunteers to continue the following measures to avoid contracting the Coronavirus and avoiding the spread of it if they unknowingly have it:

Washing hands frequently with soap and water for a minute each time
Covering their coughs by coughing into their arm—not hands
Staying home when sick
Avoiding touching their face with unwashed hands
Hand-shakes and touching of each other should be discouraged
Touching uncleaned objects (like door handles and faucet handles) with clean hands should become an issue of awareness

When should I stay home?

The Minnesota Department of Health has prepared a decision tree for people in schools, youth, and child care programs. Click the link below to view the decision tree and follow the appropriate path if a child, student, or staff person is experiencing the following symptoms consistent with COVID-19:

More common:

fever greater than or equal to 100.4
new onset and/or worsening cough
difficulty breathing
new loss of taste or smell

Less common:

sore throat
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
chills
muscle pain
excessive fatigue
new onset of severe headache
new onset of nasal congestion or runny nose

MDH COVID-19 Decision Tree

If a teacher or staff member tests positive, do all of the students who interact with that teacher or staff member need to stay home and quarantine?

When does someone need to be tested? Who pays for that?

The Minnesota Department of Health's website states that people who have symptoms of COVID-19 should be tested. Families may get recommendations from MDH for testing if their student was in close contact with someone who tested positive and their student is now showing symptoms, but testing has not been mandated to this point. Any costs for the testing of students will be incurred by families.

Will schools provide testing?

Will parents be notified when there is a case of COVID-19 in their child's school/classroom?

What happens on the buses?

All persons riding or driving a school transportation vehicle must wear a face covering.
Each vehicle will have face coverings available for riders and drivers.
Seating will be arranged to maintain 6 feet of distance between the driver and all riders, when feasible.
Vehicles will be cleaned and disinfected regularly between routes with heavy focus on frequently touched surfaces.
Doors and windows on the vehicle will be open when cleaning the vehicle and between trips when possible to let the vehicles thoroughly air out.
If a rider or driver is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or has been exposed to someone positive for COVID-19, they must stay home and not board the bus.
If a student or driver becomes ill during the school day:
- The student will not be allowed to board a school vehicle to return home. The District will contact families to arrange transportation home.
- The driver will follow protocols outlined for people who are ill and will not be allowed to board a school vehicle.

COVID-19 Resources

Staff Resources
Staff Plan and Resources: Distance Learning

School and Community Supports for Families
Steele County Community Resources
Mayo Clinic Family Resource
Minnesota Department of Health
National Association of School Psychologists
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

State Information Hotline at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC): 1-800-657-3504

Please note, this information is based on Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines. Guidelines can and do change frequently (length of time for close contact*, for example) and specific details of a concern/situation/positive result will be examined by MDH on a case by case basis as they arise. District protocol may also be adjusted in the below scenarios, as MDH and CDC update their guidelines.

*Close contact is currently defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as someone who was within six feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 48 hours before illness onset.