K-M schools report no COVID cases for 3 weeks

As of last Friday the Kasson-Mantorville school district had reported no positive COVID-19 cases for three weeks, according to KM Supt. Mark Matuska.

In a communication to KM families, the superintendent said that the last positive case in the elementary school was October 4, in the middle school October 8 and the high school September 28. He also said that among the students who are quarantined, in all cases it was because they came in close contact with a positive case outside of school.

As of October 29, Matuska said, the positivity rate for the district was 4.77%. That number is the second lowest since the beginning of the school year. The lowest figure was 3.14 % on September 19. The high point was 7.35% on September 24.

The district is currently operating under a model of elementary students in grades pre-k through 6 attending classes in-person and students in grades 7-12 on a hybrid model.

Matuska also clarified how district officials make the decision as to which learning model the district will follow.

Dodge County Public Health Director Amy Caron meets weekly with Dodge County school superintendents and is available for consultations throughout the week. Administration also meets with the K-M COVID-19 Advisory Council when necessary. Any recommendations of that group are then presented to the School Board.

While the state does release statistics every Thursday showing county-level data of 14-day positive cases per 10,000 residents, that is not the sole criteria for determining if a district should have in-person, hybrid or all-distance learning.

According to the Minnesota Department of Education, Matuska said, those 14-day county numbers are only one factor a district should take into consideration when considering a learning model.

All schools chose a learning model to begin the school year. From that point MDE officials said, district decisions to shift to an alternative learning model should center on the impact of COVID-19 at the school level while at the same time being aware of changes in viral activity in the community.

In addition to the county-level case data, officials said, district officials also consider the number of confirmed cases, quarantines and close contacts in the school community, each school building and other data such as individuals with influenza-like illness, said MDE Deputy Commissioner Heather Mueller.

District officials, Matuska said, continue to review these different metrics as they continue to monitor various learning models.

“I am beyond proud of the work our staff continues to do to keep your children safe while at school,” Matuska said in his letter to parents, “not to mention the innovation they’ve shown while instructing those who are learning in school and from home. Our community has stepped up, too. Thank you all for doing your part.”