BY SAM WURDEMANN
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A week ago today, I received my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19. I am one of hundreds of millions of Americans who has been administered at least one dose, and I, like many others, have begun to feel optimistic again. As we move forward and not back for the first time in over a year, one may begin to think that we have made it to the light of the end of the tunnel. But, as we have witnessed at MSA, we’re not quite there yet.
The MSA BOD made a decision in March that they were finally in a comfortable enough position that we would be able to begin the efforts to return to in-person learning, and on April 5th, we did just that… partially. While a vast majority of MSA students elected to continue their learning virtually, the beginnings of the MSA population began to return to classrooms again.
This is how things have continued to function, with students and faculty being sent out reports keeping them updated on cases and the like on a weekly basis. The campus has remained mostly secure, though notably, at least one faculty member is known to have tested positive since April 12th.
By the current trajectory, a return to full in-person learning by the end of this school year is almost certainly impossible. However, normal may come back at the start of the 2021-22 school year, especially with the current success of the vaccine distribution at the federal and state level.
Presently, MSA’s COVID response is at an impasse as a result of turmoil in the Board of Directors. MSA Director John Garawecki will not be renewed for the 2020-21 school year; the full story on this development is not yet known. Directly related to this affair is the resignation of Judy Seeberger, former MSA teacher and COVID Coordinator for the BOD, who before resigning accused the MSA Board of racism and ableism in their policy (this story is also developing).
We do not yet know who will be taking over for Mrs. Seeberger as COVID Coordinator, but in their monthly newsletter the BOD stated that, “board members stepped up to help with some administrative duties.”
It is at this point still unknown whether the current instability of MSA leadership will impact its response to the pandemic, but at the moment, there has been no concern nor consideration to return to fully virtual learning, and should the campus maintain its current state, it will likely continue to be that way. For now, we must put faith in the students and staff, and move forward with a sense of optimism, decency, and a little bit of hope.
Read the BOD’s statement on COVID-19 at MSA here: http://www.mnmsa.org/news