Clearview Elementary School will be following suit with the rest of St. Cloud District 742’s PK-5 students and transitioning to full time distance learning after the Thanksgiving holiday. Clearview began the year in a hybrid learning model.

Due to rising cases of COVID-19 in the community and local health experts and officials projecting a continued increase, the Governor’s Safe Learning Plan required the district to consider the impact of COVID on the community and schools as well as the operational challenges of increasing numbers of students and staff in quarantine.

“COVID-19 cases at Clearview are likely mirroring what’s going on in the community,” said Clearview Principal Meredith Boucher. 

Clearview will be closed November 23-25 to allow staff time to transition to the distance learning models as allowed by the Safe Learning Plan. Students will begin distance learning November 30. After winter break, the district is tentatively planning to return to the hybrid model on January 4.

“Of course we’re disappointed,” said Boucher. “Teachers and students want to be here, and we all know kids and teachers do best in the classroom together. But we want to be following guidelines and keeping everyone safe.”

“We have a really good plan going forward,” she said. “Teachers are prepared and will have live instruction with kids during the day. They’re getting super creative to make it meaningful.”

Free meals will be distributed to families via neighborhood drop locations; exact times and locations of meal delivery are being provided to families in advance of the transition.

Childcare for PreK-6 grade students is being planned by Central Minnesota Boys and Girls Club to support district elementary buildings. Families can register at bgcmn.org/kidstop.

Secondary students in the district are already in the distance learning model.