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January 14, 2021
Updates in this email:
You may have seen the news today that following significant changes in federal guidance on vaccine distribution earlier this week, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) informed hospitals, health care systems and other vaccination partners that they can provide vaccines to broader categories of Minnesotans – including Minnesotans 65 years of age and older. This decision is based on engagement with Minnesotans, changing guidance and inconsistent allocations from the federal government, challenges around the complexity of this COVID-19 vaccine administration – and ensuring no vaccine goes unused.
We understand that this announcement may result in questions about vaccine rollout for phase 1b (which has been planned for after January), in addition to providers still awaiting their vaccine in 1a. More information on the next phases of vaccine rollout and phase 1b will be announced in the coming days. Meanwhile, Minnesota is still working with the extremely limited supply of vaccine allocated each week from the federal government the state is urging the federal administration to provide more vaccine immediately.
Collection Reports
As noted in the COVID-19 Saliva Testing for School Staff: Program Guide for Schools, each testing site must complete a collection report following testing. The collection report is available for sites to complete following their staff testing events. Below is information from the program guide, which includes the link to the testing collection report. This has been updated to clarify when to identify a need for additional inventory:
Collection. After testing, complete the testing collection report to provide information about kits used, kits remaining, if more kits are needed for the next round of testing (every other week), and feedback on the testing experience.
To help ensure tests are available by your designated testing date, collection reports must be completed within 24 hours of completing testing. Schools should identify a need for additional inventory at least two weeks before that inventory will be used.
Unused Tests
The number of test kits you need is bound to fluctuate between tests dates. Before ordering your next batch of testing kits, please assess how many unused kits you have on site. Account for the unused tests kits you have on hand when placing your next order for tests. For example, if you have 10 unused test kits and you know you need 50 test kits for your next round of testing, please only order 40 new kits.
The weekly data for K-12 schools file was posted at 11 a.m. on January 14 and after posting, an error was found with the formula for calculating the rates for this measure. The error caused cases from January 1 and 2, 2021 to be excluded from the counts. The majority of counties had cases on these dates and had incorrect rates reported in the original file. An updated file with corrected rates was posted at 4 p.m. on January 14. Only the period including January 1 and 2 was impacted. Other rates remain unchanged. No other data on the MDH or Governor’s Dashboard were impacted by this error.
Last week, the state began sending additional face masks to be used by students and staff and face shields to be used by staff while in school buildings. Shipments of cloth and disposable face masks in adult and child sizes, as well as face shields for school staff have arrived at regional service cooperatives. Please contact your Regional Support Team for information on the pickup schedule.
We heard feedback about the face shields that we provided at the beginning of the school year and have procured a higher quality face shield from Andersen Windows. However, it has been brought to our attention that the new face shields have a small gap between the forehead and headpiece. MDH guidance indicates that the most optimal protection is provided when face shields have no gap, but this particular model of face shield is much better than other options that exist and provides added protection beyond just a face mask. While we are working with Andersen Windows on a potential fix, it is recommended that these face shields still be distributed to all school staff as planned.
As a reminder, districts and schools served by the Metro ECSU Service Cooperative will receive face shields in mid-February. These face shields will meet the optimal protection guidance for face shields issued by MDH.
English Language Development Instruction Reminders
As districts prepare for ACCESS testing, they are encouraged to minimize the loss of English language development (ELD) instructional time. Schools and districts are recommended to consider training staff in addition to ELD teachers to administer the test. EL instruction is continues to be necessary, and eliminating or reducing ELD instruction jeopardizes compliance with regulations regarding ELD education.
Districts and schools are encouraged to review the following guidance documents and resources for further clarification.
Nonpublic Education Contact Information
MDE pulls nonpublic schools’ contact information from MDE-ORG. MDE uses this contact information to communicate with nonpublic school leaders including COVID-19 updates and CARES Act funding details. It’s up to the school district in which the nonpublic school is located to maintain and update the nonpublic school’s information. Please take a moment to review the information in MDE-ORG for nonpublic schools within your district and update the information as needed. We really appreciate your assistance in helping us stay connected with nonpublic school leaders during this pandemic. Please contact Paula Higgins at paula.higgins@state.mn.us with questions.
Outdoor Summer Learning Training Opportunity
The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for our students, families and all of our school communities. It is more critical than ever before that schools and community partners work together to provide safe and engaging educational opportunities during summer 2021. These opportunities help us ensure students are continuing to learn and are on track to succeed in the coming school year and beyond. The Minnesota Department of Education, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Extension, and the Monarch Joint Venture have collaborated to offer Pollinator Outdoor Education to share summer program options that align with academic standards.
The training is Wednesday, January 20 from 3 - 4:30 pm and open to school and community based organization staff planning summer learning opportunities for students in grades K-12. This session that will cover resources, project and program ideas and best practices for engaging students and families through hands-on learning. Hear directly from adult pollinator experts and 4-H youth Pollinator Ambassadors. If your program has a student advisory or student leader component, we encourage those students to participate also.
Register here or contact Eric Billiet, 651-582-8425, for further information.
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