MARSHALL — As COVID-19 rates rise in southwest Minnesota, Marshall Public Schools has gotten questions about how the district has been affected. MPS officials said they’re working to make that information transparent with an online dashboard providing real-time information on the number of positive cases and people in quarantine in the district.

At Monday’s school board meeting, board members also discussed updates to safety protocols for groups renting school facilities like gymnasiums.

Superintendent Jeremy Williams said he’s gotten questions from community members as county COVID-19 rates have continued to rise. Currently, Lyon County has a rate of over 50 cases per 10,000 people — the point at which the Minnesota Department of Health recommended schools consider switching to distance learning.

However, Williams said, so far the county rates haven’t matched what’s going on internally at MPS.

“Our internal (COVID-19) numbers continue to be low, and they’re maintaining low,” he said. What many school districts are learning is that the county case rates were more useful for figuring out how to start the school year, before districts had information on staff and student cases.

Williams said information on the number of positive cases and people in quarantine at MPS will be updated on the school district’s website, at www.marshall.k12.mn.us/Page/5431. The community dashboard is linked under MPS’ Return 2 Learn plan.

As of Monday afternoon, the dashboard said there were a total of 8 positive COVID-19 cases in the district: four staff members and four students. Five of the positive cases were at Marshall High School, while three were at West Side Elementary. In addition, 94 MPS staff and students were in quarantine due to close contact with COVID-19. Williams said the numbers on the dashboard may change as new information is updated.

School board member Sara Runchey said it was still important to be conscious of case numbers in the community, in spite of low case numbers at MPS. If there are high numbers of positive COVID-19 cases in Lyon County, there’s still a chance for spread within the schools, she said. COVID-19 case numbers are rising statewide.

“The numbers in Minnesota are really disturbing,” she said.

Board members also gave feedback on COVID-19 safety protocols for groups who rent school gyms or other facilities for sports and other activities.

For the most part, facilities rentals will need to follow the same safety rules as the MPS Return To Play protocols.

“We had this document in place since August,” Williams said. The protocols include rules like wearing masks when not exercising, keeping participants together in “pods,” and bringing in their own equipment when possible. Renters would have some additional rules, however. The protocols allow scrimmages between students attending school in Marshall, but say no outside teams can be brought in. An adult coordinator must also be present to make sure students follow COVID-19 safety rules.

Board member Matt Coleman said he was concerned that community sports groups might lose interest if they’re not allowed to bring in teams to play against. Board member Aaron Ziemer agreed, but he said the protocols at least gives students a chance to practice, in case competition is allowed in the future.

“This is going to be a living document,” Williams said. If conditions change, the protocols can also be updated.