Mason City schools announce return to hybrid learning model due to spread of coronavirus

MASON CITY – As the coronavirus metrics for Cerro Gordo County and statewide, as well as for the district, continue to trend in the wrong direction, the Mason City School District provided an update on how they will handle educating youths during the pandemic.

Beginning today, Thursday, November 12, 2020, students in grades 5-12 (Lincoln Intermediate, John Adams Middle School, Mason City High School and Mason City Alternative School) will return to 2-day a week hybrid learning. This hybrid learning for grades 5-12 will continue through Friday, December 4, 2020. On Wednesday, December 2, the district will communicate the leaning plan for grades 5-12 beginning Monday, December 7.

The school district explained the change, saying:

The countywide 14-day positivity average is currently 23.3% and has been above the 20% positivity rate for the past 10 days. While the county test positivity rates are on the rise, transmission of the virus to or among students at school is not a common occurrence. Most cases of exposure in regards to students and staff are happening due to community spread outside of the school environment.

However, community spread has had a larger impact on school district staff. The district data supports the need for a change due to staff absenteeism. The district is struggling to provide enough staff to support 4-day a week school at these grade levels. Due to this, the decision has been made to move to 2-day a week hybrid learning in hopes the community trend will stabilize so the district does not have to move to continuous learning. A move to continuous learning would mean no in-person school and no athletics or activities while in continuous learning.

PK-4 will continue their current 4-day schedule. The staff absenteeism at this level is such that these buildings are still able to support a 4-day a week schedule. Student absenteeism at this level remains low.

As a reminder, we post a COVID “tracker data dashboard” as a weekly update each Friday regarding the impact of COVID on the school system. You can find this on the MCCSD Return to Learn website at: https://returntolearn.masoncityschools.org/covid-tracker-dashboard.

Mason City Community School District urges the community to assist us with keeping our kids in school. Please wear your masks in public, social distance, do not participate in large social gatherings, sanitize surfaces you come in contact with, and wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.