OSSEO, Minn. — Over the next few days, all schools in the Osseo and Prior Lake districts will be moving to distance learning due to illness hitting staff and students.
In a letter from the school district sent to families Monday night Superintendent Cory McIntyre said an "extremely" high number of students and staff that were missing school due to illness prompted the move.
McIntyre said some schools were missing up to 25% of their staffers, and that distance learning will remain in place through Monday, Jan. 24.
The district said it is in danger of not being able to meet student needs with an in-person model, so middle and high school students will move to online learning beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 11, and elementary schools with shift off-site on Wednesday, Jan. 12.
All students are scheduled to return on Monday, Jan. 24.
Students without internet access at home may come to their school for online learning. Families are asked to use this option only as a last resort. Bus service will be available to transport students, but classes will still only be provided online.
Parents can register their students to travel to and from school for online learning through the district's COVID-19 hub. Forms should be available starting Tuesday.
Meals will be available through curbside pickup between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at district schools.
For more information, visit the Osseo School District homepage.
Prior Lake public school administrators also decided a move to distance learning was necessary after 632 students were absent between Jan. 3 and Jan. 10 due to positive COVID tests or quarantine requirements due to exposure to the virus. On Monday 12% of staffers were out. Combined with positions that remain open due to the ongoing hiring shortage, district officials say there really isn't another option but to default to distance learning.
"Our administrators and staff have been working hard to fill in wherever needed but continued absences, combined with staffing and substitute shortages have left us with operational challenges we cannot overcome at this time," read a message sent home to Prior Lake families from Superintendent Teri Staloch. "As a result, we have consulted with the MN Department of Health as well as Scott County Public Health and have made the decision to shift to distance learning beginning Thursday, January 13."
Distance learning for Prior Lake students will be in effect at least through Jan. 19. A decision on whether to return to the classroom will be made by noon on Jan. 18. Here is the schedule for the next week.
- Wednesday, January 12 - Distance Learning Planning and PD Day for Staff (No school for K-12, ECFE, ECSE and Circle of Friends Preschool)
- Thursday, January 13 - Distance Learning
- Friday, January 14 - Distance Learning
- Monday, January 17 - No school, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Tuesday, January 18 - Distance Learning
For more details on before and after school programs, athletics and extra curricular activities, log on to the Prior Lake district website.
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