NEW ULM — Parents of District 88 students received an update Friday on what to expect for the start of the school year in regard to COVID-19 masking.

According to the letter sent to parents by Superintendent Jeff Bertrang, Minnesota has no new requirements for schools, but many recommendations.

The school district continues to monitor the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) have for updated guidance and recommendations related to COVID. The school is also in communication with Brown County Public Health regarding infections, vaccination status, and hospitalization data.

“Our focus remains on providing a safe and welcoming environment for our staff and students,” the letter read. “We can’t control the federal and state requirements in response to the infections and spread of COVID.”

The letter said the district “understand each family has unique situations and beliefs on what is best for their families and we respect that. Our focus remains on providing a safe and welcoming environment for our staff and students.”

The letter includes a list of initial plans for the start of school in the fall. It states:

• Masking is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) regardless of vaccination status.

• We are not requiring masking for students and staff.

• Masking is still required on all school buses. This is a federal requirement; school buses are considered public transportation.

• Anyone can wear a mask at school for their own protection, we will not segregate based on who does or doesn’t wear a mask.

• Vaccination for all those 12 and over is recommended by the CDC, MDH and are available at your healthcare provider, local pharmacies and Brown County Public Health.

• Vaccinations are not a requirement to attend school. This is a family decision on what is best for their children/students.

• We will continue to operate our HVAC systems at full capacity for more frequent air exchange in each building.

• Each building will work to maximize spaces in classrooms and common areas to allow for more spacing between students.

• If someone tests positive for COVID, they need to stay home in isolation for 10 days.

• If someone is considered a close contact at school, we will inform the parents and

ask them to monitor their student for up to ten days, we will not require them to miss school. If we see symptoms at school, we will ask them to go home and recommend they get a COVID test. There are many seasonal allergies and other medical issues that resemble the symptoms of COVID.

• If your student is a close contact of a household member, or someone they spend a great deal of time with, who is positive for COVID-19 we are asking that you quarantine your student for 10 days – household contacts are very likely to develop COVID 19.

• Each school site will continue with the daily disinfecting we did last year.

• Hand sanitizer will remain available for visitors at the main entrances.

• If we experience an outbreak in one of our schools, we may need to move to distance learning for a period of time, possibly up to two or three school weeks.

• As we go throughout the year, we ask families to remain flexible and understanding. Should we see too much transmission in schools, we may change our masking stance so that we can continue to offer in-person learning.

• School schedules will return to normal at the middle school and high school sites. All buildings will have classes five days a week.

• We will not be offering a distance learning option for students. We know the best educational value and outcomes are when students are in school and working with their teachers.

• We are a public entity and if the state or federal government require everyone to mask and/or other requirements, we would need to change our plans to follow those new requirements.

The only federal requirement at this time is that masks are required on school buses at all times. Further chanages would be made if required by the state or federal governement.