Flex Learning Days 

Plan and Procedures

The Blue Earth Area School Board approved a plan for Flex Learning Days for the 2021-2022 school year. The goals are to minimize the disruption to academic progress caused by emergency school closures and to continue the learning during the time when it is most meaningful for students and teachers. 

The State of Minnesota allows school districts to count up to five e-learning days as instructional days in one school year (120 A.414 E-LEARNING DAYS).  The district must provide full access to online instruction and students must be able to contact their teachers via phone and email. For Blue Earth Area, the Flex Learning Days will begin on the second day of cancellation due to inclement weather. Superintendent Fletcher will give two hours of notice for a Flex Learning Day to students, parents/guardians, and staff through the automated messaging system. 

Teachers of students in early childhood to Grade 5 will be working on professional development activities throughout the school day while middle school and high school teachers will be providing online instruction for their students. Online instruction may include watching instructional videos, participating in online class discussions, reading, or completing assignments. Teachers will be delivering content, giving assignments, and providing feedback during the normal school day hours. Even though students and teachers won't physically be in the same building, they will still be able to connect and work together by using technology.

Because Blue Earth Area students in Grades 6-12 take their Chromebooks home with them and are accustomed to using them for many online learning activities already, the BEA plan will have students in Grades 6-12 work online during emergency school closures and these hours will count as instructional hours. Students in early childhood to Grade 5 will not be expected to do any required work online during those days; instead, they will be encouraged to read, play, or help around the house. 
 

Message from Supt. Fletcher about Flex Learning Days

Greetings BEA Families!

As our inclement weather draws near, we feel it is a good time to remind you all of the Flex Learning Day plan here at Blue Earth Area.

The first time that school will need to be canceled for the day due to weather conditions, there will be no Flex Learning Day. This means that the very first day that school at Blue Earth Area will need to be canceled due to inclement weather, kids and families should simply enjoy the day! However, if there is a need to cancel school again this winter, days 2-6 will be a Flex Learning Day. This means that by 6:30 am, you will a) receive a phone call from me stating that due to weather conditions, school is canceled for the day and a Flex Learning Day is in progress; b) receive a text message from me stating that due to weather conditions, school is canceled for the day and a Flex Learning Day is in progress c) check the district website and/or social media pages stating that due to weather conditions, school is canceled for the day and a Flex Learning Day is in progress d) hear the KBEW radio announcement stating that due to weather conditions, school is canceled for the day and a Flex Learning Day is in progress or e) check any of the TV stations (WCCO, Kare11, KSTP, Fox 9, KAAL, or KEYC) that will say that due to weather conditions, school is canceled for the day and a Flex Learning Day is in progress.

What does a Flex Learning Day look like? For students in grades K-5, they should simply enjoy the day! They could help around the house with chores, read a book, play with a sibling, and be ready to share the next day about what they did during their “snow day”. For students in grades 6-12, a Flex Learning Day will allow them the opportunity to continue their learning as if they were in school. Students should log into their Learning Management Systems (LMS) for each of their classes (i.e. Google Classroom, Moodle, etc.) to check for assignments. Material for a Flex Learning Day will be posted to the LMS by 10 am. Teachers will be available by phone and/or email until 3 pm each Flex Learning Day. If they have questions, students are encouraged to email their teachers directly, or call the hotline at 507-526-6555 and leave a voicemail for their teacher. 

The state allows school districts the use of Flex Learning Day for up to five days each year. Should Blue Earth Area have a need to cancel school beyond the 6th day (keep in mind the first day is a “freebie” snow day), we will need to then look to adjust the calendar of the year to make up that time. 

So, in summary:

• First snow day, “freebie”/no Flex Learning Day

• 2nd - 6th snow days, Flex Learning Day in progress for students in grades 6-12

• 7th snow day and beyond, will need to be made up

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any building principal or me directly.

Thank you and have a wonderful winter!

Mandy Fletcher, BEA Superintendent

When you see this graphic on social media or the website, you know that it will be a Flex Learning Day for students in grades 6-12.