Albert Lea Area Schools Superintendent Mike Funk laid out initial plans Monday night to the Albert Lea school board for the district’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and plans for distance learning starting at the end of March.

Funk said it had been a busy day since he and other district administration found out Gov. Tim Walz’s executive order to close schools through March 27 to students and then reopen to provide distance learning starting March 30.

The district is setting up free child care for students ages 5 to 12 during regular school hours for health care workers and other emergency responders. People who fall in this category are asked to contact their child’s school to set up student care during the day for those students, as well as transportation, if necessary.

The district will also provide child care to children of school district employees.

“Our teachers we believe are essential, and so, therefore, we are providing that for our employees as well,” he said.

Funk said the district will provide meals to anyone 18 or younger starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Buses will travel to various locations to deliver a pre-packaged lunch, snack and breakfast for students from 11 a.m. to noon at Southwest Middle School, Hollandale Christian School, Albert Lea High School, The Rock, Halverson Elementary School, Hawthorne Elementary School, Lakeview Elementary School, Brookside Education Center, the Albert Lea Family Y, First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove, Hayward Lutheran Church, St. Theodore Catholic School parking lot and a parking lot at 600 E. 14th St. Meals will be provided Mondays through Fridays while schools are closed.

Funk said once distance learning starts, employees will continue to receive regular pay and benefits.

Teachers and administration are still in the preparation phases, and they plan on having district-wide grade-level team meetings, so teachers will be consistent across the district.

Learning platforms planned to be used include Schoology for the high school, Google Classroom for the middle school and SeeSaw for the elementary age. IXL is another tool that can be used for all ages.

He said the biggest issue is internet access, and the district is trying to discover who has access and who doesn’t and will need hotspots.

Devices will be distributed to elementary schoolers for learning.

Special education students will need to have their individualized education plans adjusted for a distance learning component, and English language learners will receive support from district success coaches.

He said while he has heard of other districts being challenged by the coming weeks, the district staff have a positive attitude and want to do what is best for students.

“I think we are very well prepared for this,” he said.

School board members asked some questions about the initial plans, including whether there will be staff in place for device support for students and parents and whether students will be required to complete state testing.

Funk said there is a building tech at each building, as well as building tech integration coaches for teachers that can help with device support.

He said there has not been a definitive answer given regarding state testing, though he thinks it will likely be canceled.

He noted the district is not planning on conducting the ACT. He said regarding the AP testing, the district can spread the students out for those tests.

Board member Jill Marin asked if distance learning will take place in the foreseeable future until further notice, and Funk replied in the affirmative. He said the food distribution and child care will go throughout that time.

 

Related story: “Child care available for health care and emergency workers”