In the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Stewartville School District is working to protect its students and teachers when they come back to their classrooms this fall. Belinda Selfors, superintendent, speaking to the School Board last week, said the district has purchased a number of virus-fighting items, including plexiglass, floor dots, sit spots, hand sanitizer, face shields and more. In all, the district has spent about $200,000 to keep its students safe from the virus, Selfors said. The district will nearly cover the bill with $175,000 in federal funding and another $18,000 in Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funding, which comes from the Minnesota Department of Education's Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Like all other school districts across the state, the Stewartville School District will pay for a COVID coordinator, money not included in the $193,000 in total funding from the state and federal governments, Selfors said. As of last week, Selfors wasn't sure how much it will cost the district to hire a COVID coordinator.. For more on this story pick up your copy of the Stewartville STAR.
