Summer is coming to an end, and many students and parents in the community are anxious to know exactly what is in store for them this fall. There is still a lot of uncertainty about what exactly the school year will look like, but there is one thing that Becker educators want you to know: things will not be done the same way they were last spring.

The Model for Fall Semester

The school board, as of the writing of this article, has yet to make a final decision on which learning model will be used for the upcoming fall semester. That being said, a survey of school staff showed about 81% of respondents being in favor of in-person learning, according to superintendent Jeremy Schmidt during Monday’s school board meeting. He went on to say that 88.8% of responses from a community survey were also in favor of in-person schooling. He also mentions that Becker has few cases of COVID-19 compared to surrounding communities. The goal is to have students attend in-person, if at all possible.

Three Different Learning Models Proposed

The school district has prepared three different learning models that can be adapted as the COVID-19 situation develops. The model to be used will be determined by the number of cases in the community, feedback from parents and students, and Minnesota’s guidelines.

In-Person Learning

The first model will be all in-person learning. In this model, students would attend school physically, Monday through Friday, during normal school hours. Social distancing would be encouraged whenever possible, but classrooms and busses would otherwise be filled to capacity. Classrooms and busses would be disinfected every night, and high-traffic areas will be disinfected several times throughout the school day. Students and staff would be required to wear masks, as per Governor Tim Walz’s executive order, and would be encouraged to frequently sanitize their hands.

Hybrid Learning

The second model is hybrid learning. This would involve a mixture of in-person and distance learning.

K-5 students would still attend school Monday through Friday with normal school hours, but classrooms would be “redefined” so that students can spread out distance themselves from one another. This would involve using large areas as classrooms, such as using the gymnasium or the field house. In this model, elementary school students would continue to physically attend in school since those students whose parents worked would probably only end up in a daycare program.

Middle school and high school students, on the other hand, would only attend school two days per week. Students with last names A-K would attend school on Mondays and Tuesdays, and would be distance learning on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Students with last names L-Z would be distance learning on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and would physically attend on Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesdays would be reserved for disinfecting learning areas. In cases where students of the same household have different last names, the last name of the oldest student would determine the group for all the younger siblings as well.

Distance Learning

The final model is distance learning. Students would be learning online rather than be in a physical classroom. Students doing distance learning would still be expected to attend class at the required time, and they would stream the classes using a computer or tablet. Distance learning would be much different than the “crisis teaching” of last spring. Students would have a lot more structure than they did before.

Any families that cannot, or do not wish, to have their students attend school physically may opt into distance learning at any time, despite which model the school is following. Likewise, any student who has special circumstances may qualify to be at school full-time, regardless of the model being used.

If students who opt into distance learning do not attend class, or are otherwise not doing sufficiently well with their studies, then the school may work with families to find a way for the student to safely attend school in-person.

Homeschooling and Private Schooling

Some parents are considering having their student do homeschool or private school this upcoming school year. Superintendent Schmidt addressed this during the school board meeting, noting that the result of many families pulling their students out of Becker schools could result in less funding for the schools. He asked parents who were considering homeschooling their students to try the distance learning model, and to supplement it in whatever way they see fit. He says that with the distance learning model, students still have the opportunity to interact with their peers, albeit virtually. Some parents may want to enroll their students in private schools that guarantee in-person learning for students. These parents are encouraged to review the models the Becker school district has set up and to contact Becker schools with any questions they may have.

Masks for Students and Staff

Masks will be required for students and staff according to Governor Walz’s executive order. Masks will be provided to both students and staff. Superintendent Schmidt noted that this was a controversial topic among parents, but that this decision was not one for the school board to make.

Providing Internet to the Whole Community

Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) recommended the school board contact legislature regarding broadband access grants. Some money was designated from the CARES act to help provide internet access to those who didn’t have it. There are a number of spots within the Becker school district that have poor or no access to internet. Superintendent Schmidt noted the importance of internet access for all Becker residents in case of another situation like last spring’s. The board passed a resolution of support for the Border to Border Broadband Access Grant Program. In the meantime, families that lack the internet service they need to continue education can qualify for free internet service with the Arvig Education Assistance Program by calling (888) 992-7844.

Questions from Parents

An email was sent out recently with links to videos of the four Becker school principals explaining the different learning models. The principals encouraged any parents with questions to contact them directly. Their contact information is listed below.

Mr. Christensen, Primary School Principal: 763-261-6330, dchristensen@isd726.org

Mr. Boyer, Intermediate School Principal: 763-261-4504, nboyer@isd726.org

Chantel Boyer, Middle School Principal: cboyer@isd726.org

Dave Kreft, High School Principal: dkreft@isd726.org