Announcement coming on secondary students’ return to in-person learning

(Editor’s note: Eden Prairie Schools announced the change this article refers to not long after publication. An updated article on the announced changes can be found here. )

Eden Prairie 7th to 12^th graders are headed back to in-person learning, according to Superintendent Josh Swanson. The only question right now is exactly when.

Swanson said at the Feb. 22 school board meeting that he would be making a more detailed announcement to families “in the next day or two.”

The district began looking at the latest transition after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced last week that secondary students in the state can begin returning safely to in-person learning.

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Eden Prairie secondary students had already returned to the district hybrid model earlier this month after having been in online learning since last November.

Swanson said district teams have begun working on the logistical aspects of bringing all students back to in-person learning.

“We want to make sure that there is stability and predictability for staff and families as we make that transition,” he said.

Swanson said the district has made it a point to look for natural breaks when implementing transitions since COVID-19 forced dramatic changes to learning models since March 2020.

He reminded the board and online meeting viewers that there are a lot of moving pieces to deal with. One of them is gearing up school cafeterias, he said.

“We need to make sure we have food on hand,” he said. “It takes several weeks to get food physically here.”

But he said district personnel are busy working on that issue and others and asked for patience.

“For those people who are anxious and want to know, want to know,” he said, “bear with us for another day or two and we will have that information for you.”