Governor Walz checking on schools

Governor pays a visit to our region

State./// thank you for joining us for kimt news 3 at 10?

"* i'm katie lange.

And i'm george mallet.

Topping our news tonight, a few weeks into the school year... governor tim walz is checking in on students and educators.

Today ?

"* walz visited albert lea high school and byron primary school to highlight their successful use of hybrid learning during the pandemic.

Kimt news 3's isabella basco got some insight into what the future holds for minnesota education.

Isabella... will we see a return to "normal" any time soon?

Xxx right now we're not seeing a bump in covid cases in minnesota schools.

If this trend continues... governor walz expects schools will move more and more back to "normal."

Xxx <nats of children > "this is a foundational part of their life."

<nat > "they need not only the content but the social?

"* emotional side."

<na > "we're basically getting out here and saying thank you."

Gov.

Tim walz is optimistic ?

*- more kids may return to the classroom.

"we've had some schools back for about 4 weeks now, we've not seen the big clusters, we've had smaller outbreaks, our testing regimen is able to test them, isolate them and contact trace and that's working."

Sooner ?

"* rather than later.

"if minnesotans do the little things, like wear the masks, social distance, don't gather in large groups, we should continue moving in this direction."

How are the byron bears faring during the school year?

The superintenden t says it's definitely been a transition.

"i think some of our biggest initial challenges were probably at the elementary level, one is with transportatio n because we're running at 50 percent capacity, we really have asked our families to help with the transportatio n of our students."

Lunch time is also taking a different form.

"we're eating in classrooms, that's different for us, our menu continues to evolve."

School districts are operating in unprecedented times ?

"* but if there's anything educators know how to do... "these communities and their educators and according to the state's safe learning plan ?

"* health officials recommend in?

"* persn learning for all students if the number of coronavirus cases per 10?

"* thousand people in a county is 9 or less over 2 weeks.

Live in byron ib kimt news 3.

Thanks isabella.

The minnesota departments of education and health will continue to work with districts throughout the school year to track the virus and determine if and when a school may need to adjust