Osseo Area Schools Pushes Back School Start Date to Sept. 14
Osseo Area Schools has joined other districts in delaying the start of the school year. The district announced Wednesday that school will begin on Sept. 14.
Supt. Cory McIntyre of Osseo Area Schools
In a letter to parents, Superintendent Cory McIntyre explained why he recommended the delay to the school board. The board approved the decision in its Tuesday night meeting.
McIntyre listed the reasons for the delay:
- Assign staff to the Distance Learning Academy and adjust staff assignments in our physical buildings
- Revise master schedules at all schools, including the Distance Learning Academy
- Provide additional training to staff in safety protocols and the effective delivery of instruction in the hybrid model
- Provide time for staff to plan and prepare instruction in the event they have been assigned to teach at a new grade level or a new course within their subject area
- By gaining an additional four days for the items above, I believe we’ll have a more successful start to the school year. Those four days will not be added back to the school year calendar.
McIntyre went on to say the instructional model for the school year is being reconsidered. He recommended opening in a Distance Learning PLUS model, but the board did not approve it. Instead, McIntyre said the board indicated a willingness to consider a different recommendation at an emergency board meeting which McIntyre hopes to schedule by Friday.
McIntyre is pushing for a more restrictive model for opening, other than the hybrid model.
Virus case rates in our greater community are concerning. My team and I have been in regular contact with state and county public health officials, and I have specifically consulted with the MN Dept. of Education, the MN Dept. of Health and Hennepin County Public Health regarding our start plans. Each of those agencies advised taking a more cautious approach that puts safety first. We also need more time to finalize staffing in our physical schools and the DLA, and to provide staff training in the hybrid model. Starting the hybrid model later will provide more time to plan for that model and will help ensure that our staff is confident and ready for hybrid learning.
–Superintendent Cory McIntyre in a letter to parents.
Currently, the district is set to open in a hybrid model of distance and in-person learning.
Osseo Area Schools is the latest district to push back the start of the school year.
Last week, Wayzata Public Schools announced it would be pushing back the start date of their classes. Earlier this week, Anoka-Hennepin Schools announced it would be doing the same.
