Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response Plan

About the Response Plan

This plan for addressing any Coronavirus incident is intended to serve the best interests of students, employees and families.

Preventing Coronavirus Incidents

Preventing Coronavirus Incidents

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

School Closure

Following an Executive Order issued by Governor Walz, schools are closed until March 30 and will resume instruction through e-learning. Because Minnetonka's spring break falls over this time period, we will resume instruction on April 6 and will last until at least May 4.

For Families
For Teachers & Staff

For Families

Providing Education During School Closure

Minnetonka Schools will begin e-learning for E-12 on Monday, April 6 following Spring Break. Parents will receive instructions about e-learning expectations and schedules for their children from their school's principals and teachers. Instruction will primarily be accomplished through the use of online tools and District-issued devices, such as iPads. e-Learning will count toward instructional hours.

This will require the full cooperation of students, teachers and parents to make this instruction meaningful and in compliance with the full expectations of Minnesota statutes.

This week and into next, principals and teachers will be in touch with parents and students to communicate expectations for e-learning.

We have no immediate date in mind for when students and teachers will physically return to our schools and buildings. We will make the decision in the next few weeks as to whether we will physically return to school for the remainder of the school year or not. Governor Walz will be giving all schools in Minnesota direction regarding his expectations for the duration of closing.

Pre-school, ECFE and ECSE

Students enrolled in the District’s Pre-school, ECFE and ECSE programs will be provided regular instruction through Seesaw to enable parents to assist their children in the learning expectations of their respective program. April 6 will be our first official day of e-learning in Minnetonka.

e-Learning in Pre-school, ECFE & ECSE

Although our primary means of connecting with you during the course of the e-learning period will be via technology, you and your child will have the opportunity to participate in services throughout the week in a variety of ways. We know that our littlest learners do best when engaged in real-life, hands-on experiences, otherwise known as PLAY! We are excited to partner with you and provide you with activities, ideas and resources to facilitate learning through play and within your daily routines and activities.

Seesaw will be the learning platform for Minnetonka Preschool.
Your child’s teacher will have content posted in Seesaw by the beginning of your child’s preschool day.
You can expect instruction and activities that support Minnesota’s Early Learning Standards.
Minnetonka Preschool teachers will be available by Seesaw or email during your child’s typical preschool time.
When a preschool student either completes a designated Seesaw activity, or an adult sends a photo/video of the preschool student completing one of the screen-free activities from the Minnetonka Preschool LEARN matrix, the child will be identified as having attended preschool for the day.
If your preschool student is ill and unable to participate in e-learning, please let your child’s teacher know.
If the school year has to be extended later than scheduled into June, refunds will be given for instructional time not provided or students would continue to be instructed in school or online, as the parents choose.

Students with IFSPs & IEPs

We know that this is an already chaotic and unpredictable time of life in many households and do not want to add any further stress. Therefore, we are looking forward to helping you navigate this new normal and providing you and your child with opportunities to address their Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) priorities and/or Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals/objectives.

You and your student will have the opportunity to participate in services throughout the week through a variety of methods. You can expect your case manager or service coordinator/provider to meet with you/your child at the frequency of which is listed on your child’s IFSP or IEP. During this time:

If your child receives home visits, you can expect your service coordinator and/or providers to connect via Google Hangout Meets or phone calls to continue to provide coaching opportunities throughout your daily routines.
If your child attends Minnetonka Preschool, you can expect that your case manager and service providers are working with your child’s preschool teacher to provide activities to supplement general education opportunities to make progress towards goals/objectives. In addition, service providers may also provide additional opportunities, such as videos/resources on Seesaw to address goals/objectives in natural learning environments, as well.
If your child attends speech group sessions, you can expect that the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) will be sending/posting videos and activities on Seesaw. Additionally, the SLP will connect with your family via Google Meets for check ins and coaching support. While this is not how we are used to providing service, if there is anything the Minnetonka School District is known for, it is being innovative and creative. Now is our time to shine. Let us help you navigate these uncharted territories.

Elementary Schools

Instruction for students in grades 4-5 will be delivered primarily through the use of iPads and the District’s Schoology program. Students in Grades K-3 Seesaw and other tools with home computers.

Middle Schools

High School

Students Receiving Special Education

Student Support Services is working closely with you to review e-learning and the impact on the delivery of special education and related services. Additionally, our special educators are working closely with your child’s general education teachers to support your child’s learning within their general education coursework as well as to schedule direct instruction to meet IEP service minutes.

Please note, if a school closure causes educational services for all students to pause within a school or district, then the school/district is not required to provide services to students eligible for special education services during that same period of time.
However, with this, we want to assure you that we are actively planning our outreach and lesson delivery for our students and plan to maintain, to the best of our ability, your child’s services and supports.
If at any time you have questions about your child’s plans and programming as we go forward, please reach out to your case manager, your building principal, and/or our leadership team.

Our special education leadership team will continue working closely with all staff to best meet your child’s needs. We will continue to monitor guidance from our leaders at the state level, as well as our US Department of Education and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. As a leadership team, we will continue to update parents and staff with any new information.

About e-Learning

Despite the fact that many students with IEP’s use iPads for their learning, there will need to be modifications in order to implement appropriate instructional strategies that comply with IEP’s.

Younger students with IEP’s will be served through the use of home computers or loaned iPads or Chromebooks from the District, and connections will be assured through the home access or access provided by the District.
There are other tools that will be implemented for all students to enable them to receive instruction in the best form possible.
For families who do not have home computers for such access, the District will loan their students Chromebooks and will facilitate internet connections for instructional engagement.
It will be important for parents to assure that their student has the expected learning device with them at the end of each day during this time of uncertainty.

Resources for Parents

We also know that students may experience anxiety during this time. Attached are a few resources for parent support.

The Special Education and Student Support Services Leadership Team

Michelle Ferris, Executive Director of Student Support Services
michelle.ferris@minnetonkaschools
952-401-5017

Christine Breen, Director of Student Support Service
Christine.breen@minnetonkaschools.org
952-401-5036
MHS, EXC, SH

Kristin Laughlin, Supervisor of Student Support Services
Kristin.laughlin@minnetonkaschools.org
952-401-5045
CS, GRV, MWA

Mandy Kasowicz, Supervisor of Student Support Services
Mandy.kasowicz@minnetonkaschools.org
952-401-5042
MMW, MME, DH

Angie Kleinedler, Coordinator of Early Childhood Special Education
Angela.kleinedler@minnetonkaschools.org
952-401-6808
Early Childhood Special Education MCEC

Annie Lumbar Bendson, District Health Services Coordinator
Annie.lumbarbendson@minnetonkaschools.org
952-401-5992
District Health and Nursing Services

Students Receiving 504 Services

Student Support Services is actively plan for e-learning and support for 504 students. Your school's 504 coordinator will be available via email for any questions throughout the COVID-19 school closure. They have asked staff to be mindful of each students 504 plans, noting that many of these program supports are more relevant for in-person, real-time teaching. We will continue to support your family's 504 plans to the best extent possible.

The District will work with you and monitor the impact on the delivery of Section 504 program changes throughout this school closure period. In addition, the 504 coordinators will continue to work with all general education teachers that support your child’s learning.

Please note, in a school closure situation, as we are in, schools/districts are not required to provide services to students eligible for special education and/or section 504 services during that period of time.
However, with this, we want to assure you that the District is actively planning for all students and plans to maintain, to the best of our ability, each child’s 504 program supports.
If at any time you have questions about your child’s plan and programming as we go forward, please reach out to your building 504 coordinator, your child’s teacher(s) or your principal.

The District will continue working closely with all staff to best meet your child’s needs and monitor guidance from our leaders at the state level, the U.S. Department of Education and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

504 Building Coordinators:

Shelly Hughes, MHS
shelly.hughes@minnetonkaschools.org

Erin Brown, MMW
erin.brown@minnetonkaschools.org

Matt Lichty, MME
matt.lichty@minnetonkaschools.org

Patti Berger, DH
patricia.berger@minnetonkaschools.org

Amy Horning, CS
amy.horning@minnetonkaschools.org

Mike Savage, Exc
michael.savage@minnetonkaschools.org

Andrea Hoffman, GRV
andrea.hoffmann@minnetonkaschools.org

Farrah Jennings, MWA
farrah.jennings@minnetonkaschools.org

Susan Berge, SH
susan.berge@minnetonkaschools.org

All Students

In order to access instruction through the use of iPads/Chromebooks and Schoology/Seesaw/iXL, students will need to log in according to specific directions by their teachers.

Grading

Grading and assessments may be modified for the students, but it will be intended that this model of delivery (e-learning) will be equivalent to what students would have in school.
Individual teachers will be responsible for grading the work of their students and recording those grades.

Attendance checking

It will be important to the State of Minnesota that schools keep accurate attendance records. Attendance will be measured by daily checks with parents and by monitoring the entry of students into Schoology for instruction and schoolwork.
The students’ access to Schoology will indicate “attendance” at the instructional setting established by the District.
Other means of checking “attendance” for younger students will be communicated to parents via Seesaw, and they will require parent cooperation.

Instruction when the teacher is unavailable

There will be cases when teachers are unable to teach on a given day, and instruction will need to be provided by another teacher.
The instructional plan will continue to be in place even when the teacher assigned to the students is unavailable.
If there is no replacement teacher available on a given day, parents will be notified of that situation and the options for continuing instruction.

Meeting State Requirements

In the event that the technology used to deliver instruction does not adequately meet the requirements of Minnesota statutes, alternative solutions will be implemented.

In the event that the District’s plan for using iPads/Chromebooks and Schoology/Seesaw/iXL does not sufficiently meet District expectations or Minnesota statutory requirements, the District would need to extend the school year beyond the scheduled last day of school long enough to meet State requirements.
There is a small difference in the number of the District’s scheduled days in session and the statutory requirement for time in session, and that would enable the District to meet some of the time away from school without making up time.
It is not possible to estimate before a closure event how much time would be required to make up days required by law.

Standardized Testing

Following an announcement from Governor Walz, MDE has confirmed the following with regards to standardized assessments.

NWEA Testing: Cancelled
MCA Testing: Cancelled
District Writing Assessments (Cold Write): Cancelled for elementary; middle school has completed these assessments.
STAMP 4Se and 4S makeups: Cancelled
Istation: Continue to use the home component. In addition to K-3 Spanish Immersion classes, Grades 4 and 5 will also begin implementation of this supplemental instructional/assessment product as a pilot for this school year.
HSK/YCT Testing: Cancelled
Fluency Tests: Cancelled
AP Tests: College Board will be making these available online (see below)
IB Tests: Cancelled
ACT State Test (April 21): Cancelled

Middle School Course Placements

At this time, the dates listed below will be used for summer testing that may impact middle school course placements. If schools are available for use, we will be able to use the following dates as a means for testing students using the NWEA test and pre-algebra final, specifically for science course placements and for the 6th grade Algebra course. In addition, we are considering a teacher input tool to help inform decisions for honors level placements. This process will be finalized and communicated at a later date following spring break.

6/17
7/15
8/5

Advanced Placement (AP)

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the College Board has made some adjustments to the 2020 AP Exam schedule and implemented new processes in order to support students at this time. The College Board will move to an online administration of the AP exams scheduled for May 2020. Students will take a 45-minute online exam at home using any device they have access to. The official communication from the College Board can be found here. The College Board will continue to update AP Coordinators with the details of how we will move forward. As updates occur, we will pass those on to students registered for AP exams via email, in order to stay informed, please check your email accounts regularly.

For Teachers & Staff

Working During School Closure

Employees will not be expected to be at work, except for those who are called to work. No other employees should come to their schools or offices.

Working conditions for employees will be altered for some employees, and the respective employees will be informed of plans and any changes that will affect their work and attendance at work.

Tech Resources for Teachers and Staff

Tonka Tech Resources for Staff contains directions to many technology programs. Some are teacher specific, but others like these highlighted below will help many of you working from home.

Google related instructions:
- Switching Between Google Accounts on a home computer (using work GMail instead of your personal email)
- Instructions for using Google Meet (including viewing multiple users during meetings in a Brady Bunch style grid)
- Setting up a Gmail Forward so work Gmail forwards to Outlook email
- Phone Calling Options from home to hide your personal number
How to Get Office 365 at home
SSO tips including:
- Changing your Password
- Remote Access to p:Drive and s:Drive
- Favoriting Applications in SSO

Tonka Tech Resources for Staff

Employee Pay During a Closure

All employees will continue to be paid. The District's payroll staff is ready to continue paying staff as scheduled.

District Services During School Closure

Teachers

Teachers will prepare starting Monday, March 16, to move to full online learning by testing connections to students and identifying materials that should be ready for the next two weeks.
Teachers of students in Grades 4-12 will should expect to be available throughout their normal work day, including time before or after school, as assigned. In addition to the time for delivering instruction through Schoology, teachers need to expect students reaching out to them for assistance with lessons during the normal workday.
Times for students to contact their teachers with assignment questions will be established by each principal of any schools closed.
Teachers who need to take time off during any of the e-learning days will need to inform their principal, and alternatives for the students will be determined by the District.
Special Education teachers will need to work with their students through assistance from the students’ parents.
In the event that the closures involve less than a full District shutdown, teachers in the closed schools may be reassigned to schools that are open.
It is expected that all teachers will assure their readiness to deliver instruction through the use of Schoology, Seesaw, iXL and other supplementary learning venues during a crisis due to the Coronavirus.
This will require teachers to assure that they have their iPad, Chromebook or home computer available at the end of every school day, in case their school is closed before the start of school the next day.
Any teacher who does not have Internet capability at home should inform their principal immediately, so arrangements can be made to provide such access during an emergency.
The District will schedule times before any emergency arises for teachers to practice the e-learning model with their students, and teachers will be expected to implement those plans.
One other new option for teachers is that childcare will be available at no cost for a teacher when that teacher is asked to be at work in their school during the closure. Teachers will need to inform Community Education in advance that they will need childcare for the following day.

Paraprofessionals

Office Assistants

Food Service, Custodians, Maintenance Workers

Custodians and maintenance staff should plan to be at work Monday, March 16, and will receive further directions for subsequent days.
Some Food Service staff will be needed to prepare meals for children who need them during these times. Delivery may also be needed. The District is currently developing the exact plan for distributing meals.
If any staff member were needed to perform unexpected tasks, they would be recalled to the job site.

Principals, Assistant Principals, Counselors, Social Workers, Media Specialists, TOSA’s and Teacher Instructional Coaches, District-wide Administrators

Principals, assistant principals, counselors, social workers, media specialists, TOSA’s and Teacher Instructional Coaches may be assigned alternate responsibilities.
Community Education administrators, coordinators, program managers and the Marketing Specialist will report to MCEC, unless they have been quarantined. They will be needed for communication and program support.
Counselors and social workers will be able to stay in contact with individual students via phone, text, email and GoogleHangout during a closure.
District-wide administrators will report to the District Service Center, unless they have been quarantined due to contact at schools or events. All will be needed to assist in communications with parents and employees.

Community Education Staff

Teacher Collaboration via Schoology Offsite

At the elementary level, grade-level Schoology courses have been built to facilitate group discussion and curation of resources to use with students.
Teachers can communicate which activities they have added to the District Library in Seesaw.
At the middle school-level, most content areas have pre-existing Schoology groups explicitly designed for teacher collaboration.
At the high school-level, most content teachers are already co-administrators in their content-specific Schoology courses.
Any teachers would have the additional option of having a new Schoology course or group created for the explicit purpose of collaboration.
As groups/shared courses are created, a list of access codes by subject and department will be posted to the Teaching and Learning Schoology Group in which all K-12 are already enrolled.
Teachers can also collaborate via
- Google Hangouts
- Google Docs/Slides
- Email and phone

Tech Department Role

Internet access can be made available into the parking lots of specific schools if needed, with accessibility capable from outside the school.
In the event of a prolonged closure, the Tech Department will coordinate the building of courses for each group of collaborating teachers as the vehicle where grade level and subject area teacher can collaborate, build and share instructional resources.
Non-functional (broken) iPads will be addressed by the parent/guardian scheduling and exchanging the iPad at the Tech Center.
The Tech Department will manage all essential services and critical functions (and can do so remotely).
Essential department capacities are backed up by at least one other department staff member.
This includes the learning applications used in a closure - this includes all the applications found in SSO as well as applications on iPads.
The Tech department would play an active role in the distribution of technology (iPads/Chromebooks) throughout the closure.

Tech Team Role

Families First Coronavirus Relief Act

Minnetonka Public Schools wants to share some information about the stimulus law that was passed by Congress and signed by the President. In addition to the stimulus bill that is sending relief to those most in need, the United States Department of Labor just released a new Families First Coronavirus Relief Act.

View information on Families First Coronavirus Relief Act.

Athletics, Activities, Fine Arts and Clubs

Effective immediately and continuing until Governor Walz has lifted his school closure declaration, all participation in Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) spring activities at all member schools is suspended.

The current suspension of participation includes fine arts activities and athletics: Speech Section and State Tournaments, Music Contests, Visual Arts Competitions and State Festival, MSHSL State Robotics Tournament, MSHSL Clay Target State Tournament.

The new possible start date for Spring sports is Tuesday, May 5. This is dependent on the Governor reopening schools. If the schools don't reopen it is likely there will be no spring season. If the schools do reopen we are hopeful for a shortened season.
We have temporarily currently closed all spring registrations. The plan will be to re-open registrations on Monday, April 27. Parents can still scan and email updated physicals to:
- MHS (Jane McGowan jane.mcgowan@minnetonkaschools.org)
- MME (Annie Camp anna.camp@minnetonkaschools.org)
- MMW (Jody Eischens jody.eischens@minnetonkaschools.org)
Students are reminded NOT to be on schools campus. The grounds and buildings are closed.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available and as decisions are made.

Communications

The District is committed to regular communications with parents and the community during these events.
A clear and detailed communications plan for the various scenarios related to possible school closings or disruptions has been developed and will be implemented.
The District has a Web page dedicated to Coronavirus information and procedures on the Web site.
The District will provide timely information at that site, as well as any updates via email, text and phone as needed.
Parents who are concerned about the virus itself should contact the Minnesota Department of Health hotline at 651-201-3920.

Community Education Programs

Explorers (Childcare)

During the Governor’s mandated school closure time period, Explorers is only open to families working in Critical Sectors.

Qualifying Critical Sector employees with children ages three through twelve can register for childcare here.
Responses must be received by 5:00 p.m. the night before care is required.
Our hours of operation will be 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Care will continue during Spring Break and will be provided throughout the mandated school closure.
Beginning April 6, students will be supported in their e-learning while at Explorers.

School Lunch

Minnetonka Public Schools is providing meals for students who need them every Monday for as long as school is closed.

Free school lunch will continue to be offered to all children in Minnesota, 18 years old and younger, Monday through Friday until school resumes. This includes Spring Break.

Lunch pick-up continues at the following sites:

11: 00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Minnetonka Heights (by the leasing office) - 5809 S County Road 101, Minnetonka, MN 55345
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Stratford Woods (by the leasing office) - 18900 Stratford Rd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Excelsior United Methodist Church (in the parking lot) - 881 3rd Ave, Excelsior, MN 55331

Beginning on Monday, April 6, Minnetonka Schools is changing its process for school lunch distribution.

Five lunch meals per child will be available for pick-up each week. Meals are available for anyone 18 years old or younger at no charge. If you would like to request weekly meals, please click here: https://forms.gle/ecJ9cu8d6CkSAehy9 to fill out your request by 2 PM each Wednesday.

Meals can be picked-up on Monday of each week at the following locations:

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Minnetonka Heights (by the leasing office) - 5809 S County Road 101, Minnetonka, MN 55345
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Stratford Woods (by the leasing office) - 18900 Stratford Rd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Excelsior United Methodist Church (in the parking lot) - 881 3rd Ave, Excelsior, MN 55331

The Stratford Woods and United Methodist Church parking lots are large enough to accommodate having your meals delivered directly to the trunk of your car. Whenever possible, please use this drive-thru method for everyone's safety.

Only parent(s), guardian(s) and/or the student may pick up food. Children do not need to be accompanied by an adult to receive food.

Please note: School lunch is being provided by all school districts to any child in Minnesota, so if a family resides outside of Minnetonka, they can receive school lunch in Minnetonka, or if they so choose to, they can check with their local school district if they would prefer to receive school lunch for their child closer to home.

ICA Food Shelf is an additional resource available for Minnetonka Families as well as a great place to help our community during this hardship for many families.

Spring Events

All district-wide events are canceled through at least May 4, 2020. This includes Community Education classes, programs and events (including, most recently, the Youth Triathlon event).

Minnetonka Public Schools is currently considering the status of several upcoming large events, such as the Celebration of Excellence and the Class of 2020 Graduation. We are building out alternative plans in case these are not able to go as originally planned.