School in flux

This morning, Governor Tim Walz ordered schools to be closed from March 18 to March 27.

More explanation to follow.

*Click here for a more in-depth explanation of Minnesota Executive Order 20-02 at the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper (short link): https://bit.ly/2wWG2An. This web article was posted at 11:30 a.m. today.

At B-B-E, how it relates to school and Jaguar Kids Connection operations in Jaguar Country is forthcoming.

It's very important to know that schools have the option of closing on Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and March 17. Governor Walz's executive order does not forbid schools from closing other days outside of the March 18 to March 27 window.****

• The executive or requires schools to provide care for elementary-age children of health care professionals, first responders and other emergency workers during previously planned school days. The order directs districts to provide on-site care for enrolled children of emergency workers who are age 12 or younger. The order encourages districts to provide extended care before and after school hours if possible. How this translates to the operations at B-B-E schools and JKC has not been explained at this point.

Also, at 1 p.m. today, the Minnesota Department of Health will hold a conference call today to brief members of the media on the latest information regarding COVID-19.

Stay tuned.

*Update at noon: B-B-E's administrative team is meeting today (afternoon), and important information is forthcoming on the operations (or lack thereof) of B-B-E schools and Jaguar Kids Connection in the next two weeks. They have a huge amount of information and input to process, based on what is given to them from the Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control.

Parents are asked - as difficult as it is - to be patient and wait for further announcements.

Also, the Belgrade police department is offering to be a source of assistance for families who may struggle across the next two weeks as children are not able to go to school and receive the hot school lunches on school days.

Additional updates will be posted in a new blog post and at the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper's website. Http://www.bonanzavalleyvoice.com.