Superintendent's Report

I hope everybody is having a fantastic summer. Administration and other school staff are busy with our summer cleaning and preparations for the 2020-2021 school year. Life for our students and parents has been anything but ordinary over the past three months, but we are hopeful school and activities can fully resume in August. Ultimately, these decisions will be made by the Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Department of Health, and Governor Walz.
Recently, the Department of Education and the Department of Health released documents designed to help public school districts prepare for the 2020-2021 school year. School Districts have been directed to prepare for three different scenarios for the start of school:
Scenario 1: All students fully back: All students would return to school with social distancing measures implemented.
Scenario 2: Hybrid: A combination of students in school and distance learning on alternative days. Strict social distancing measures would be taken. Breakfasts/lunches would also be provided for all students, whether they are in school or at home.
Scenario 3: Distance learning: Students would distance learn from home every day. Child care for students whose parents are tier 1 workers would be available. Breakfasts/lunches would also be provided for all students. This scenario would be very similar to the distance learning we did during the fourth quarter of the 2019-2020 school year.
The Minnesota Department of Education has indicated that they will let us know which scenario we will begin the school year with no later than the week of July 27. We are excited about the possibility of the return of our students and staff. While we, like most of you, are anxious to know how the fall will look, we appreciate the patience our families have shown during these uncertain times. I want to thank our parents, staff, students, and community for your continued support of our school district!
Finally, we are happy to be able to have in-person high school graduation at the football field this Friday, June 26, at 6:30 p.m. (social distancing will be observed during the ceremony). Due to the restriction by the Minnesota Department of Health of a maximum of 250 attendees, this will need to be a closed ceremony. I am happy to announce we will be able to provide a live stream for FREE on YouTube, and the Marshall Radio will also be covering the event. This week we will send out the link for the live stream. If we are unable to hold the ceremony at the football field due to rain, we will move it to the competition gym (same day/time). Immediately after the graduation ceremony has concluded, there will be a car parade of the graduates at approximately 7:30 p.m. Chief Bolt will lead the parade and plans to go down every road in town that isn’t a dead-end! Hopefully, you can acknowledge and cheer on the Class of 2020 from your yard on Friday night!
Sincerely,
Dan Deitte, Superintendent of Schools