March 25, 2020

Dear Menahga Families:

Update

At the Governor’s press conference today, he issued a stay at home executive order effective this Friday, March 27th at midnight through April 10th. Distance learning will still begin Monday, March 30th as we have been planning for. Distance Learning will be in effect through May 4th. Our plan will be published on our website by the close of day Friday, March 27th. Schools are considered essential personnel. We will continue to provide distance learning, meals, and childcare throughout the duration.

We have been directed to ensure that every staff member has work to do. We will balance between providing those essential services, keeping staff income stream steady and being flexible in these trying times.

As we move forward Our Priorities are:

1. Food for kids and childcare for essential personnel

2. Connectivity with students

3. Distance learning

…and we need to do all of this without putting staff in harm’s way.

As a community, we can meet this challenge if we stay in this together. As I look at what we have done in the last 12 days I don’t believe we could have done any better if we had time to plan. If we keep the same efforts moving forward, we will succeed. There is not another team I would want to work with and no other community that can top the support we have had. Thank you all in advance for your patience and support during these challenging times! When we know more, you will know more.

Thank you

Kevin Wellen, Superintendent

March 16, 2020 

Dear Menahga Families: 

Update

Beginning tomorrow, March 17th, the Menahga Schools are closed to give staff time to plan to provide educational services in the event of a longer school closure. We will also be using the time to deep clean the school and buses. If you still need to pick up devices or student’s personal possessions, parents may come to the school tomorrow, as we can still have the public in the building tomorrow if necessary. This afternoon all students will be offered tomorrow’s breakfast to take home on the bus. Tomorrow kitchen staff will prepare lunch for every student and we will use bus routes to deliver these sack lunches and Wednesday’s breakfast for every student beginning with routes tomorrow at 11:30. Please accept this with our gratitude for your patience. Our plan is that all deliveries are distributed by 1:30, but this is the first time this has ever been done.

• We will also be using this opportunity to ask these questions:
• Do you have internet access? Do you wish to continue the foodservice program?
• How many in the family are 18 or under?
• Is this the address you would like to have food and homework delivered to?

We have applied for and anticipate receiving a state program allowing us a free meal program for all children, not just students. Parents will have to give written permission for the district to provide their children with this service. Please cooperate with the school staff as we learn how to best help in these trying times. 

Below are reminders of previous information that is still relevant. 

IF you are a member of the emergency services profession (law enforcement, fire department, EMTs, etc.) and/or the medical profession (direct care staff) that has school-aged children enrolled in the Menahga School District from pre-kindergarten through 12 years old, please contact the school as soon as possible. We will make arrangements to provide supervision for your children during what would be regular school hours, 8:00 A.M.-3:15 P.M. 

Please remember the basics for prevention – thorough and frequent hand washing, covering sneezes and coughs, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, practicing social distancing (maintain a 3 – 6-foot separation between you and others) and staying away from large gatherings of people. 

As more information is made available, we will post on our website, on Facebook, and through School Messenger. 

This is the plan as of now. Like everything involved in this crisis, this plan has been evolving and this is what we have in place as of 3:00 P.M. on Monday, March 16th. 

We are in this together as a school and a community. As we know more, we will share more. 

Thank you 

Kevin Wellen, Superintendent 

March 15, 2020 

Dear Menahga Families: 

Governor Walz announced this morning the closure of all schools to students in Minnesota beginning Wednesday, March 18 through Friday March 27. Menahga Schools WILL be in operation Monday, March 16 but will be closed Tuesday, March 17th. 

This closure is to give staff time to plan to provide educational services in the event of a longer school closure. We will also be using the time to deep clean the school and buses. On Monday we will use the day to prepare students and staff for “distance learning”. For planning purposes, we need to know if families do not have internet access. We also need to know if you are parents of students in grades 5 and 6 or have declined to have devices home who would like them to come home now. We will also make arrangements to provide sack lunches for students on a “grab and go” and/or delivery using our bus fleet. We will need to know how many to prepare. 

IF you are a member of the emergency services profession (law enforcement, fire department, EMTs, etc.) and/or the medical profession (direct care staff) that has school-aged children enrolled in the Menahga School District from pre-kindergarten through 12 years old, please contact the school as soon as possible. We will make arrangements to provide supervision for your children during what would be regular school hours, 8:00 A.M.-3:15 P.M. 

Please remember the basics for prevention – thorough and frequent hand washing, covering sneezes and coughs, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, practicing social distancing (maintain a 3 – 6-foot separation between you and others) and staying away from large gatherings of people. 

As more information is made available, we will post on our website, on Facebook, and through School Messenger. 

This is the plan as of now. Like everything involved in this crisis, this plan has been evolving and this is what we have in place as of 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, March 15th. 

We are in this together as a school and a community. As we know more, we will share more. 

Thank you 

Kevin Wellen, Superintendent 

Posted 3.14.2020

Greetings Everyone,

We know there are growing concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus. I want to assure you that as a school, Menahga is in regular contact with the Minnesota Department of Health and the Department of Education. According to them, there are currently 14 cases in MN, none of which are students or staff in school communities, and all cases appear to be a result of travel.

We are following the recommendations of MDH and at this time, they do not recommend school closures.

We are putting extra effort into cleaning and sanitizing, at the school, and reinforcing good hygiene practices for all. We are also minimizing close contact with students and large group gatherings. In the event a case finds its way into a school, MDH and MDE are committed to being in contact with the school district, to help make the best decision for that school. 

The Minnesota State High School League has canceled all competitions until April 6th. Our spring sports are non-contact, so we will follow the same expectations for them as we are for classes. We have canceled Community Ed activities until further notice.

Field trips and student travel will be handled on a case by case decision. We will not put kids at risk, but we want them to have opportunities. Therefore, the first goal is to postpone such travel and cancel when no other options are available.

We are asking families to do their part too. MDH recommends frequent health checks on kids. Keep them HOME if they are sick.  Please continue to teach prevention, maintain social distances, encourage handwashing, disinfect frequently and of course cover sneezes and coughs. 

In the event MDH does direct us to shut down the school, teachers are preparing for distance learning to be ready to implement and keep student progress moving forward. Our goal is to make any downtime as meaningful as possible.

We continue to constantly monitor the situation and are trying to have all of your children’s needs met to the best of our ability.

Thank you, everyone, for your support and patience as we enter uncharted waters.

Sincerely, 

Kevin Wellen

Superintendent, Menahga