Albert Lea school district releases more information about plans after governor’s order
Published 1:57 pm Friday, April 24, 2020
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By Sarah Stultz and Tyler Julson
With Gov. Tim Walz’s announcement Thursday that school buildings will stay closed through the rest of this academic year, Albert Lea Area Schools parents should expect to continue distance learning through May 21.
In a letter to families on Friday, Superintendent Mike Funk thanked families in the district for the support they have provided to students during the difficult period brought on by the pandemic. Families and teachers began remote instruction in late March.
“Our educators in Albert Lea are fortunate to work with such supportive parents in this time of need,” Funk said. “Because of the collaborative efforts of our families and staff, we have made this distance learning experience as successful for our students as we could under the circumstances.”
He described the district as a model for the state in distance education.
Walz said his decision to keep schools closed for the remainder of the academic year was not an easy one.
“As a former teacher, this is a heartbreaking decision,” Walz said. “I am sorry for all of our students who will miss out on graduations, tournaments and end of year celebrations. While I recognize distance learning is a challenge for many families, it is critical to social distancing in Minnesota and supports the health of Minnesota’s families. We will continue looking for ways to improve the current system and better support our children.”
For the remainder of the school year, Funk said the district will continue to utilize Wednesdays as homework and planning days. May 1 and May 4 will be used as preparation days for staff under the governor’s order, and there will be no distance learning those days.
Funk said he anticipates having summer school in some format this summer, and the district will provide more information as guidance is given from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Seniors are expected to turn their computers in at a date yet to be determined prior to graduation this summer, but all other students will keep their devices at home until school opens again in August.
The district will continue providing child care to children of essential workers through May 21, as well as meals to any student 18 and younger in the district. He said the district is in the process of planning its summer meals program.
More information will also be forthcoming regarding graduation plans, which have been slated for July 24.
Spring sports season canceled
Along with the announcement that schools would stay closed the rest of the academic year, the Minnesota State High School League announced the remainder of the 2020 spring sports season will be canceled.
“The decision was made in alignment with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Minnesota Department of Public Health and is in support of practices that focus on community health and safety,” the MSHSL said in a statement.
The cancellation applies to all activities sponsored by the league, athletic and fine arts. Adapted bowling, adapted softball, badminton, baseball, clay target, golf, lacrosse, music, robotics, softball, speech, synchronized swimming, tennis, track and field and visual arts all had their seasons canceled. The section and state tournaments for all of those activities are canceled as well.
“I can understand how heartbreaking the cancellation of the spring sports and activities season is for our students,” said MSHSL board member Troy Stein in a statement. “Many of our students and families spend the entire year preparing for their season. Sports and activities are about so much more than the competitions and performances.”
The league also encourages all students, coaches, officials and administrators to adhere to all aspects of the stay-at-home order and participate in all recommended safety guidelines.
The Albert Lea High School Activities office released a statement Friday afternoon with messages for the student athletes as well as the Albert Lea community.
“The ALHS Activities Office would like to extend our sincere condolences to all spring student athletes and their families with a special consideration for our senior athletes,” said Albert Lea Activities Director Paul Durbahn. “We would like to note that with the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, we agree with the decision of the MSHSL. It is our responsibility to protect those around us. We love our community and want to do what is best to protect it.”
Albert Lea High School recently implemented a distance coaching model, which allowed coaches to send workouts and lessons to athletes as well as meet with them in a virtual environment to check in on them. Durbahn urged student athletes to utilize the program.
“As a department,we have extended a distance coaching model and in every conversation our emphasis has been on our concern for the well-being of our students,” Durbahn said. “Whether you’re struggling with this news or not, I encourage you to please start there; talk to your spring coaches about your feelings. Your coaches care about you and want to help you process this information.”
Durbahn also called upon students to be leaders and look out for the community by helping to guide them as they react to the unfortunate news, and to watch out for their teammates and peers and encourage them to reach out to their coach if they are struggling.
“This announcement doesn’t mean we are looking past this group of graduates or that we’re not disappointed,” Durbahn said. “This is not closure. We look forward to celebrating our class of 2020. What that fully looks like is still to be determined, but I promise we won’t let this group move on to their next stage in their lives without proper recognition.”