Gov. Walz adds more dials

After directing all school districts to construct plans for scenarios of in-person, distance, and hybrid (a mix of both to reduce student density to 50% school capacity) schooling, Governor Walz finally unveiled his executive order for how schools can re-open in the fall.

It is based on the 14-day number of new cases per 10,000 in population, by county--which is very much a moving target.  It separates the older and younger students, so that the lower grades shift to hybrid or distance learning a step behind the higher grades, thus helping somewhat with the issue of parents needing school-provided child care.

There has already been a lot of confusion among adults about that 14-day number:  is it the total number of new cases over the 14 days, or the daily average?  The low numbers of the thresholds (in the few tens of cases per 10,000) imply that it's the daily average, but in the Safe Learning Plan, it is clear that they mean the total number. This article has a graphic showing where the counties currently fall in this scheme.

The devil is in the details, as usual.  The executive order allows school districts some discretion, but really only in the direction of being more restrictive, as it threatens intervention by state officials in schools that stay open where the numbers of new cases are too high. State officials may graciously allow schools to continue in-person instruction if a local outbreak happens but is concentrated outside the school.

Parents are allowed to choose distance learning for the entire school year, and teachers may request to work from home.

According to a FAQ, if a student tests positive, then they will contact trace, and request that all close contacts found stay home for 14 days.  Their definition of close contacts:

Close contact is when someone is within 6 feet of the ill person for at least 15 minutes.

From the Safe Learning Plan:

Close contacts are defined as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 48 hours before illness onset until the time the patient is isolated

More than fifty close contacts from one individual may trigger a Testing Event, which is apparently a gathering for mass testing, with help from the state. Universal testing within a school community is also mentioned, if there's a big outbreak.

In the Safe Learning Plan, it is clear that they are thinking of sending the entire classroom home for distance learning if exposed. 

Minneapolis has already decided to go to all-distance learning for the year.  St. Paul is likely to follow.  The suburbs seem to be leaning toward trying the hybrid model.

Walz is a former teacher, by the way.