Nevis Public Schools is experiencing COVID cases within their building.
“The common theme, so far, is that students and staff are contracting it outside of the building,” Superintendent Gregg Parks said Wednesday. “The good news is that we have not experienced community spread within our school buildings. This is a huge testament to our staff and students following the COVID safeguard procedures of masking, sanitizing, social distancing and staying home when they are symptomatic. It is also a result of teamwork between staff in the high school and elementary offices and our school nurse to contact trace and help keep the virus contained to individuals.”
Parks expressed concern at the continuing rise of COVID cases in both Hubbard and Cass counties.
“We will continue to work with the Hubbard County Public Health Department and the Minnesota Department of Health to ensure we have the latest information affecting local communities,” he said. “We use this information, along with our in-school assessment, to choose the safest learning model for our students. Our ultimate goal is to get all of our students and staff back into the classroom to maximize teaching and learning.”
Nevis is currently in a hybrid model for K-5 students and distance learning for grades 6-12.
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“Our biggest challenge as educators is matching the needs of our students and families during a time in which the situation is changing rapidly,” Parks said. “Please be patient with our teachers and staff while they continually flex to meet emerging requirements. Thank you , Tiger families, for wearing your masks when in public or group settings and keeping your family members home when they are showing COVID symptoms. Your efforts are a big help in avoiding community spread within our buildings. Working together is our best bet for returning to an in-person model and a return to feeling more normal.”
Free meals are provided for in-person, hybrid and distance learning families. Hybrid students receive breakfast and lunch meals for the following day prior to leaving school.
“For our distance learning families, we are going to make a slight change to meals, starting Monday, Oct. 19,” he said. “Distance learning families can pick up five days of meals each Monday or three meals on Wednesday when stopping in to pick up homework. Please contact Kathy Edwards at kedwards@nevis308.org or 218-652-1202 to reserve your meals. The USDA is currently only sponsoring free meals until Dec. 31 or until the funding runs out.”
