Reopening Schools and Vaccine Updates

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February 19, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Isn't it amazing how 18 degrees can feel balmy after a cold spell? I am looking forward to the warmer weather this weekend and am looking forward to getting outside!

Executive Summary

• Gov. Walz announcement on school reopening 
• Vaccine distribution updates
• Minnesota Immunization Information Center (MIIC)
• Upcoming tax bills
• Helpful links

Gov. Walz announcement on school reopening

Yesterday, Gov. Walz announced that all middle and high school students can return to the classroom for either hybrid or in-person learning starting February 22^nd. Since that is next week, the guidance asks all schools to implement either hybrid or in-person by March 8^th. The previous guidance allowing only certain grades at a time in a rolling start was removed.

How does this impact schools in our district?

• ISD #728, Elk River-Rogers School District, which has already put in so much work to bring kids back safely to the classroom, will now bring all students who have chosen the face-to-face model back on February 22^nd. 10th graders who were previously scheduled to return on March 1^st will now start on February 22^nd with the rest of the district. 
• Elementary students in ISD #279, Maple Grove-Osseo Schools, are already back in the classroom for full in-person learning. Grades 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 resumed their hybrid model this week. 10th and 11th graders are set to begin hybrid learning on March 1^st. Superintendent Corey McIntyre posted an update yesterday following Gov. Walz's announcement that the district will look at the new guidance and will announce any further changes no later than March 1^st. 
• Anoka-Hennepin Schools posted a similar update after receiving the new guidance. All middle and high school students are currently able to opt-in to hybrid learning. 
• Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools welcomed 9th graders back to in-person learning on Wednesday. They planned to have grades 10-12 resume March 1^st. I have yet to see if yesterday's announcement has impacted that start day. They have a wonderful dashboard that shows how COVID is impacting students and staff. 
• Rockford Area Schools were set to complete their return to in-person learning on February 22^nd before Gov. Walz's announcement. Parents can view their dashboard at the top of the district's homepage. 

I am proud that our communities have led the way in safely reopening schools in Minnesota. I am pleased that the Governor is following the science, which has demonstrated that students and teachers can be back in the classroom safely.  

Indeed, a CDC study conducted last fall at 17 schools in Wisconsin showed that, “Among 5,530 students and staff members, 191 COVID-19 cases were reported. Only seven (3.7%) of these cases were associated with in-school transmission, all in students. Despite widespread community transmission, COVID-19 incidence in schools conducting in-person instruction was 37% lower than that in the surrounding community.”

I hope all schools will work to get all students back to in-person learning as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the Governor’s guidance doesn’t require it, however, so parents and students will have to continue to advocate for full reopening with their local school officials to ensure that the March 8^th deadline is met. 

Vaccine distribution updates

I have heard from so many of you about how frustrating the vaccine distribution process has been, so I wanted to provide links to several options that might help.

• Check with your provider – they may have appointments or partnerships set up.
• Check with your local pharmacy or go to these websites to try to schedule an appointment: Walgreens, Thrifty White, and Walmart for more information.

If you can’t get an appointment directly through your own provider or through one of the pharmacy partners above, you can also try the state’s new Vaccine Connector.  This portal allows you to find out when, where, and how to get a COVID vaccine. If you fill out the information form, you will get alerts on when you are eligible, connections to scheduling resources, and notifications on vaccine opportunities in your area.

Some people have expressed concern about filling out the questions asked on this site, so I know it will not be of interest to everyone. 

You do not need to sign up for the Vaccine Connector if you have already received a vaccine, you previously registered for the COVID-19 Vaccine Pilot Program or Community Vaccination Program, or if you completed the Vaccine Education and Child Care Survey.

I hope these links are a helpful resource to anyone who is trying to get the vaccine. 

Minnesota Immunization Information Center

I serve on the Judiciary Committee and one of the major issues we discuss is data privacy. As more and more Minnesotans get the COVID vaccine, it's important to know your data privacy rights in regard to immunizations. One resource I have recently learned about is the Minnesota Immunization Information Center (MIIC). The MIIC was set up in 2002 for health care providers to enter vaccination data so you have a complete record of vaccinations, even if you get them from different providers, such as doctors or pharmacies.

According to the link above, “The Web-based application is available to participating health care providers, public health agencies, schools, and child care centers in Minnesota to look up immunization histories and view recommended vaccinations.”

Providers have an obligation to notify patients that they participate in MIIC and patient information is automatically entered unless one chooses to opt out.

The federal government is requiring providers of the COVID-19 vaccine to enter that information into a state's Immunization Information System. I encourage you to learn more about your vaccination data privacy rights on the MIIC website.

To request your or your child's MIIC record, see Find My Immunization Record.

Upcoming tax bills

This week I coauthored two tax bills that have been referred to the Taxes Committee. Both bills would save local governments and charities money by exempting them from sales tax on certain purchases. Rather than sending money from cities and charities to the state’s General Fund, these bills would allow more of our local tax dollars and local charitable contributions stay in our own communities.

I hope these common-sense bills will soon have a hearing.

HF768 would allow a sales tax exemption on all construction materials if purchased for a local government or tax-exempt non-profit project. Local governments have a general sales tax exemption, but a quirk in the law made purchases by a contractor on behalf of a local government a sales tax liability. While there are cumbersome and complex workarounds, this bill would handle all the sales taxes on the construction of public buildings, like fire halls, police stations, and schools.

This bill would also provide an exemption for materials used in construction projects for non-profits (charitable, religious and educational), non-profit hospitals, and non-profit nursing homes.

Finally, construction materials for public infrastructure projects like roads and bridges, sewers, and water treatment facilities would also be exempt. 

HF184 would exempt the purchase or lease of gambling equipment from sales taxes. The current statute exempts items purchased for prizes at festivals, fairs, and carnivals from the sales tax. This bill would also add items purchased as prizes for charitable gambling as exempt from sales tax.

The lease or purchase of disposable or permanent charitable gambling equipment would also be exempt from the sales tax. Gambling equipment is defined in law and includes such things as bingo cards, pull-tabs, tipboards, application software and computer programs for electronic bingo or pull-tabs, electronic bingo or pull-tab devices, paddlewheels, and electronic raffle selection systems.

The bill also exempts the sale of pull-tabs and tipboards from the sales tax.

Helpful Links

I-94 West Chamber of Commerce Scholarship: The I-94 West Chamber of Commerce offers a scholarship opportunity for high school seniors in our community. Students can apply here. If you are interested in donating to the scholarship fund, email grega@i94westchamber.org for more information.

Free Meals for Seniors: Wright County Community Action, Catholic Charities and Nourishing HOPE have partnered together to provide ten free frozen meals to seniors. Meals are available to anyone aged 60 and older living in Wright or Hennepin counties. More information can be found here. Those in Wright County can apply by calling (320) 963-6500 ext. 274 or 1 (800) 333-2433. Those in Hennepin County can call 763-477-6300 or email nourishinghope.oflc@gmail.com.

I-94 Tree Removal Work: Starting Monday, Feb. 22, MnDOT will begin a tree and brush removal project on the I-94 shoulders between Maple Grove and Rogers. This project will help prepare for larger construction work over the summer. Learn more about this project here and about improvements that will be made later in the year here. 

Photos

The view from the House floor during Thursday night’s debate.

Real-time graph of energy use mix in Midwest region during bitter cold this week. You can follow this data any time at misoenergy.org.

Please Contact Me

Many of you have already been in touch to discuss your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you. Thank you for sharing your ideas! Please continue to contact me to discuss any matters to which I can be of assistance.

During the continuing COVID restrictions, the best way to reach me is by email:  rep.kristin.robbins@house.mn.  You can also leave a voicemail on my office number, 651-296-7806, which is checked a couple of times/day.

Have a great weekend!

Kristin

225 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.7806