As directed by Gov. Tim Walz, Albert Lea Area Schools will offer free school age child care for 5- to 12-year-old students from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. starting Wednesday in the Albert Lea Area School elementary buildings and Southwest Middle School. There is a list of eligible health care and emergency workers below. If you are interested in school age child care, contact your student’s elementary school or Southwest Middle School to provide information to office staff, along with whether transportation will be required.

Health care staff include providers at hospitals and clinics and post-acute and long-term care facilities, including nursing and assisted living facilities. It also includes home care workers, personal care assistants, ambulance and emergency staff and direct care and treatment professionals.

Other emergency staff include the following:

• Firefighters
• Personnel providing correctional services
• Essential court personnel
• Minnesota State Veterans Homes staff
• State and local public health agency employees
• MNsure navigators
• County financial/eligibility workers
• County case managers
• Any county staff in emergency management or health and human services