ST. PAUL (AP) -- Members of Minnesota's teachers' union are calling on school leaders to do more to protect students and staff after the state Department of Health reported the first student death from COVID-19 this school year.

Health officials said the student and two staff members died last week.

That increased the total number of school fatalities since the start of the pandemic to two students and 13 school employees, including five workers this year.

Denise Specht, president of Education Minnesota, said district leaders should not ignore virus protocols and asked parents to make sure their teens are vaccinated.

The trendline seems to be moving in the right direction. Cases of the coronavirus in Minnesota pre-K-12 schools have dropped by nearly 70% since mid-September.

 

In Pictures: What Education Looks Like Around the World During a Pandemic

See How School Cafeteria Meals Have Changed Over the Past 100 Years

Using government and news reports, Stacker has traced the history of cafeteria meals from their inception to the present day, with data from news and government reports. Read on to see how various legal acts, food trends, and budget cuts have changed what kids are getting on their trays.

More From AM 1240 WJON