WAPS Safe Learning Plan

Summer 2021 update: While June 9 marked the end of the 2020-21 school year, some students will be returning to our buildings this summer for summer learning opportunities or Key Kids. Like we did during the regular school year, there will be health and safety protocols enforced as part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have a student returning to school this summer, please review these materials. The first document is an overview of the various protocols, while the preparedness plan contains more detailed information.

Winona Area Public Schools is proud to announce the WAPS Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 school year. This is our version of the state's Safe Learning Plan, which was unveiled by Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday, July 30, 2020, to help school districts plan for a rather unusual school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WAPS Safe Learning Plan closely follows guidance from the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Health, and includes input from staff, students and district families.

The plan prioritizes the health and safety of students and staff, recognizes the importance of in-person learning opportunities — especially for our younger learners — and emphasizes stability of instruction delivery no matter the learning model in use.

School districts and charter schools in Minnesota will use one of three models: in-person, distance learning, or a hybrid model. WAPS will work closely with experts from MDE, MDH, the Southeast Service Cooperative and local public health officials to decide if and when we need to shift between models depending on the progression of the virus in the Winona community.

Families will be allowed to choose distance learning for their student(s) at any time for any reason throughout the school year.

In December 2020, we made substantial changes to our WAPS Safe Learning plan, following updates to the Minnesota Department of Education Safe Learning Plan, as well as Executive Order 20-103. The changes were outlined in our Return To Campus Timeline and shared with our staff, families and the Winona community.

In early March 2021, we announced that students in Grades 6-8 at Winona Middle School and students in Grades 9-12 at Winona Senior High School will return to a full in-person learning model to begin the fourth quarter.

We will continue to update the WAPS Safe Learning Plan based on guidance from the state, advice from local public health officials and feedback from our staff and families.