Northern Lights Academy Cooperative’s COVID-19 Plan 2022-2023
Updated: 8-24-2022
The following plan is put into place with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Operational Guide for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning.
Strategies for Everyday Operations
Northern Lights Academy (NLA) will balance the risk of COVID-19 with educational, social, and mental health outcomes when deciding which prevention strategies to put in place. NLA uses multiple layers of mitigation to reduce infectious diseases, including the virus that causes COVID-19.
Staying Up To Date on Vaccinations
Staying up to date on routine vaccinations is essential to prevent illness from many different infections. Vaccines reduce the risk of infection by working with the body’s natural defenses to help develop immunity to disease. Like all public schools in Minnesota, NLA follows the School Immunization Law in Minnesota. Specific to COVID-19, the school staff at NLA will share COVID-19 vaccine information with students and parents/guardians upon request.
Staying Home When Sick
Staying home when sick can lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases, including the virus that causes COVID-19. Northern Lights Academy encourages sick staff to stay home without fear of retaliation, loss of employment or other negative impacts. NLA provides excused absences for students who are sick.
Ventilation Systems
Schools can optimize ventilation and improve indoor air quality to reduce the risk of germs and contaminants spreading through the air. The buildings which house the classrooms for Northern Lights Academy have addressed the air exchange rate with all ventilation systems throughout the day. Air filters are regularly changed in all air handling units and scheduled preventative maintenance tasks are completed on these systems throughout the year.
Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
Washing hands can prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Northern Lights Academy will teach and reinforce covering coughs and sneezes to help staff and students from getting and spreading infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
Cleaning and Disinfection
At each site housing NLA classrooms, custodial and building maintenance staff will utilize disinfectants and cleaners with a strong COVID kill claim on a daily basis to reduce the risk of germs spreading throughout the buildings.
Masking
Wearing a well-fitting mask consistently and correctly reduces the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Although masking is not required, any staff or student who chooses to wear a mask will be supported in their decision to do so.
Testing
Northern Lights Academy will take advantage of the free testing option provided by the Minnesota Department of Health. Staff and students will have access to at-home covid tests as supply allows. In addition to providing free at-home covid tests, NLA will share information about other options to receive free covid tests and free community testing sites.
Isolation and Quarantine
Isolation is a strategy used to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 by keeping people who have symptoms of covid, or have tested positive for covid, apart from others while they are likely contagious with covid. Northern Lights Academy will not require a specific amount of time of isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, however we will require that staff and students stay home when feeling sick.
General return to school guidelines will be followed when sick which are the following:
-Consider returning to school after being fever-free for at least 24 hours, without using fever-reducing medication.
-Symptoms have improved.
-Follow any other specific guidelines you receive from your physician.
Although a specific amount of time is not required to isolate after testing positive for COVID-19, if staff or students choose to isolate for 5 days, they will be supported in their decision to do so.
Quarantine is a strategy used to prevent transmission of COVID-19 by keeping people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 apart from others. Quarantine will not be required at Northern Lights Academy. Absences related to quarantine may not be excused.
Reporting cases of COVID-19
Schools in Minnesota are required to report positive cases of COVID-19 to the Minnesota Department of Health. If staff or students test positive for COVID-19, please contact the NLA office.
May 9, 2022 Notice for Families and Staff From Assistant Special Education Director, Barb Mackey:
May 9, 2022
Good Evening NLA Community:
This is an important update regarding illnesses at school. We have seen a recent increase in a variety of illnesses, including: flu, colds, covid, etc. Illnesses are affecting both students and staff. If your child is experiencing symptoms, please keep him/her at home and call the school office to report the absence. Students with fever, vomiting and diarrhea must stay home until your child has been free of those symptoms for 24 hours without medication. Students with a new cough and other symptoms may need a covid test. The NLA is able to provide a rapid covid test for students. If your child needs a test, please call the school office and make an appointment.
The NLA administration also would like to share that there are several staff out ill. We are doing our best to provide a safe environment for our students and staff. Right now, the amount of illness within the Cloquet and surrounding communities is making it difficult to provide enough substitute staff. If we have too many staff out ill at once, we may need to switch to e-learning. We may be sending materials home with students as we go through this current wave of illnesses so we can keep students learning as much as possible. We hope that we do not need to use it, but we want to be prepared in case the need arises.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call the office.
Thank you in advance for your understanding!
Sincerely,
Barb Mackey
Assistant Special Education Director
Feb 16, 2022 Notice for Families and Staff From Assistant Special Education Director, Barb Mackey:
February 16, 2022
Dear NLA Garfield and Our Savior’s Families and Staff:
We are happy to announce a positive Covid-19 update!
The NLA Administration and School Board continue to regularly review the health of our students and staff, along with the community numbers for Covid-19 cases. Currently, the health of our students and staff is improving (less absences) and the community cases of Covid-19 are decreasing. With this positive information, the administration and school board made the decision to change the Masking Requirement at school to Masking Recommended but Optional starting Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Students and staff are able to wear masks at school if they choose, but it will not be mandatory starting February 22nd.
The federal mandate requiring masks be worn on transportation continues to be in place. Students still need to wear masks on school transportation. Please have your student wear a mask on transportation and we will remind them to put on a mask before they leave school to go home.
If absences and community numbers increase again, we may need to reinstate the masking requirement. We will send a notice if we need to make a change as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you very much!
Barb Mackey, NLA Assistant Special Education Director
Feb 17, 2022 Notice for Families and Staff From Assistant Special Education Director, Barb Mackey:
February 17, 2022
Dear NLA Carlton Families and Staff:
We are happy to announce a positive Covid-19 update!
The NLA Administration and School Board continue to regularly review the health of our students and staff, along with the community numbers for Covid-19 cases. Currently, the health of our students and staff is improving (less absences) and the community cases of Covid-19 are decreasing. With this positive information, the administration and school board made the decision to change the Masking Requirement at school to Masking Recommended but Optional starting tomorrow, February 18th. Students and staff are able to wear masks at school if they choose, but it will not be mandatory starting February 22nd.
The federal mandate requiring masks be worn on transportation continues to be in place. Students still need to wear masks on school transportation. Please have your student wear a mask on transportation and we will remind them to put on a mask before they leave school to go home.
NLA Carlton students and staff follow the masking policy for the Carlton Middle and High School because our NLA Carlton program is housed in that building. If absences and community numbers increase again and Carlton Middle/High School reinstates the Masking Requirement, we will notify families and staff of the change. At this time, the Administration of the Carlton School District reviews data weekly and makes a determination for the following week. If the decision changes back to Masking Required, we will notify students and staff and send out a message to families.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you very much!
Barb Mackey, NLA Assistant Special Education Director
Aug 19, 2021 Notice for Families and Staff From Assistant Special Education Director, Barb Mackey:
COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies
as of August 19, 2021
Northern Lights Academy Cooperative #6096-52
2021-2022
Below is a list of recommendations and practices, drafted in consultation with Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative school districts and local Public Health, that are intended to allow our school to function in order to meet our students' academic, social, and emotional needs.
All recommendations are subject to change based on Covid circumstances and/or government mandates.
Masks
1. Per MDH and CDC recommendations, all those that enter any Northern Lights Academy school sites are strongly encouraged to wear a mask. This includes staff, students, and visitors.
2. Families and staff are encouraged to make the best decision for them individually. If a family wishes for their child to wear a mask, please contact the building principal. NLA staff will encourage the student to wear the mask as requested by the family.
3. Federal law currently requires masks on all public transportation. School vans, suburbans, buses and other vehicles are considered public transportation, so masks will continue to be required during transportation. This is a federal mandate.
4. If our region sees an increase in COVID-19 spread, we will work in conjunction with Carlton County Public Health to consider changes to our masking practices.
Vaccinations
1. COVID-19 vaccination will not be required (including any verification) for staff or students.
2. Requiring vaccines for students would require changes to legislative language, found at MN Statute 121A.15. The Coronavirus vaccine is not currently listed. Unless that state language is changed, the coronavirus vaccine will not be required for students.
3. Staff vaccination requirements are not being considered at this time.
4. Our school district will continue supporting staff, students, and the community in accessing vaccines, including sharing information on vaccinations and upcoming clinics.
Visitors and Activities
1. Visitors will not currently be limited beyond our normal visitor policy. However, if levels of influenza-like illnesses (ILI), including COVID-19, reach 5% or greater, allowing visitors in a building will be temporarily suspended.
2. Visitors to our schools are strongly recommended to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status.
3. If our region sees an increase in COVID-19 spread, we will work in conjunction with Carlton County Public Health and our school board to consider changes to our visitor practices.
Social Distancing
1. The CDC recommends a minimum of three (3) feet for all indoor activities. Our staff will work to keep students socially distanced when possible.
3. Principal and maintenance staff will do our best to accommodate reasonable requests from staff for barriers or other mitigation strategies.
4. If our region sees an increase in COVID-19 spread, we will work in conjunction with Carlton County Public Health to consider changes to our distancing practices.
Cleaning and handwashing
1. We will continue to clean classrooms and common areas daily. Students will be encouraged to wash their hands regularly. Hand sanitizer is also available for student and staff use throughout the buildings.
2. Disinfecting materials will be made available to all teachers.
3. Custodial staff will disinfect classrooms and common areas periodically.
4. Principal and maintenance staff will do our best to accommodate reasonable requests from staff for barriers or mitigation strategies.
Quarantine/Isolation
1. In the event of a positive COVID-19 case, the district will conduct contact tracing. We will seek assistance from Carlton County Public Health when needed. The person with a positive case will be required to quarantine for at least 10 days from onset of symptoms or positive test, along with improved symptoms and no fever for 24 hours without fever reducing medicine.
2. All identified close contacts and their families will be notified as soon as possible.
3. In each school building, if the total number of influenza-like illnesses (ILI), including COVID-19, is under 5.0% of staff and students, quarantines for close contacts will be highly encouraged but not required.
4. Close contacts with the infected person when both parties were wearing masks, will not be required to quarantine unless they are showing symptoms. However, quarantine is recommended.
5. Staff and students who are fully vaccinated and identified as a close contact will not be required to quarantine unless they are showing symptoms, but they may if they wish.
6. If any building reaches 5.0% or higher of influenza-like illnesses (ILI), including COVID-19 we will require a quarantine period of seven (7) days for close contacts. If the quarantining person does not have symptoms they may test after five (5) days of last contact and return to school with a negative test. Otherwise close contacts who do not have any symptoms may return after seven (7) days.
7. All staff and students should self-quarantine when showing one common or two uncommon COVID-19 symptoms. They can return when they do not have symptoms for 24 hours. This includes no fever for 24 hours without fever reducing medicine.
8. Students who develop one common or two uncommon symptoms while at school will be promptly sent home. Students will be required to wear a mask in the nurse’s office while waiting for pickup.
All recommendations are subject to change based on Covid circumstances and/or government mandates.
Summer 2021: SAFE RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING PLAN
6-18-21
As a condition of accepting the ESSER III award (FIN160 & FIN161), the NLA must develop, with community input, a Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plan and post it for public comment within 30 days of receiving the ESSER III award (June 21, 2021). The requirements for the ESSER III Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plan can be found in the Interim Final Rule and must describe how “[the LEA] will maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other staff and the extent to which it has adopted policies, and a description of any such policies, on each of the following safety recommendations established by the CDC.” The Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plan must be reviewed regularly, at least every six months, and the LEA must seek additional public comment on revisions. LEAs must retain documentation of the plan development, plan review, public comment, and summary of public comment.
Please send any additional public comment to Barb Mackey, NLA Administrator, at [email protected]
Access the Northern Lights Academy Safe Return to In-person Learning Plan (Summer 2021)
2020-2021 School Year COVID-19 Information
At the beginning of this past school year, the Northern Lights Academy Board approved a Safe Learning Plan HERE in order to educate students in the safest way possible, following MN Dept. of Education and MN Dept. of Health requirements and recommendations in 3 possible learning models. As we moved through the school year, the NLA monitored health concerns and changed learning models accordingly. Upon release of 2021-22 school year requirements and recommendations, our Safe Learning Plan will be updated accordingly.
Access Northern Lights Academy current learning model through the MDE Safe Learning Model Dashboard
May 12, 2021 Updated Notice for Families and Staff From Assistant Special Education Director, Barb Mackey:
Dear NLA Families,
Happy New Year! May 2021 bring all the blessings you and your family need this year. At NLA, we are looking forward to getting our students back to in person learning full time soon. This message is to share with you the plans for the next week and the learning model change happening on January 19th.
The NLA administration has reviewed the overall health of our students and staff and has been in contact with the regional team to discuss changing our learning model. We found out that we need to use hybrid learning for one additional week so students will attend school during the week of January 11-15th using the same hybrid model we are using this week. There is a regularly scheduled no student day on January 18th which is on the NLA calendar. Then, starting January 19th, students will attend school using the in person model. We are very excited to have a return to in person learning date!
There are a couple of additional ways we are working to continue lowering the risk of transmission of covid-19. All staff are required to wear a face mask as well as a face shield throughout the day. All students continue to be required to wear a mask. A new requirement of returning to in person learning is that students will also now be required to wear the mask during gym time. We will work with students to make this adjustment.
NLA also continues to offer distance learning to families who make the request of distance learning. This is a good time to review the needs and health of your family. An NLA staff member will be calling you tomorrow to check in and find out what your plan is for your child. Is he/she planning to return to in person learning full time? Are you still requesting distance learning for your child? Did an IEP team make a decision for the use of a hybrid model? If so, is the hybrid model still the best fit or should we have another meeting to make that determination? The answers to these questions will help us to plan for who is returning and using what schedule. We would like each one of our students back in our buildings, but support the choice of the family. We look forward to hearing what you plan to do.
Unfortunately, I also need to pass on a quick reminder that we are still monitoring the health of all of our students and staff closely along with the local data. If we have in school exposures or transmission or if we have staffing issues due to staff illness or quarantine, we may need to return to the use of the hybrid model or even possibly the distance learning model. We are hopeful that we will be able to use the in person model for the remainder of the school year, but unfortunately, Covid-19 is unpredictable and that may not be possible. As always, we will communicate with you as soon as we have updated information.
Thank you very much for your support and understanding as we forge our way through this pandemic and school year. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the office or by email.
Have a great day!
Barb Mackey
Message from Assistant Special Education Director, Barb Mackey:
November 24, 2020
Dear NLA Families, Staff and Referring Districts,
Thank you so much for the hard work to make the new hybrid schedule work this past week. Our students and families are working hard to follow through on both In Person and Distance Learning and we are very proud of all the effort put into learning! We know this isn’t easy for anyone. Our staff continue to work hard to meet the needs of students in both the In Person and Distance Learning models and to problem solve to make things go as smoothly as possible. The referring districts transportation departments have been working hard to follow the schedule for students attending our In Person sessions. We appreciate all everyone’s efforts!
When we sent out the information regarding the switch to the Hybrid Model, we were hopeful that we could return to the In Person Model for all students after the Thanksgiving break. We are sad to report that after reviewing current Covid-19 data and our school situation, we are unable to return to the In Person model at this time. Everyone wishes we were able to, but the continued rise in Covid-19 cases and more staff illness and quarantine require NLA to use the Hybrid Model after we return from this weekend’s 4 day break.
The good news is that we can still use the Hybrid Model at this time when many schools are having to move to only Distance Learning. We do, however, need to encourage each family to have a back up plan in case there is an outbreak of Covid-19 at school and we need to shift to the Distance Learning model. We will communicate with you as soon as possible if a change is needed.
During the review of the Covid-19 case data in the region and the NLA staff information, the NLA administration determined that Hybrid Learning will continue through January 8th, 2021. When we return from the Winter break on January 4th, the NLA administration will review the updated case data and make a decision on the model to use starting January 11th. We would like to communicate with you that we can return to an In Person for all In Person model, but we will need to use data to make that decision.
Thank you again for your understanding and patience as we move forward to provide education during this unpredictable and unprecedented time. We appreciate the cooperation and support each of you is providing to the NLA students and staff. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at the NLA office or at my email address or google voice number (218-451-2134)
We wish you a safe and healthy week!
Sincerely,
Barb Mackey
Message from Assistant Special Education Director, Barb Mackey:
NLA Learning Model Change Information
November 9, 2020
The Northern Lights Academy administration appreciates all the input it received from families during the decision making process today. We also would like to thank each of you for your understanding because this was a difficult decision to make and your response has made it a little easier. We regrettably need to adjust the learning model to address the significant data regarding covid-19 new cases and the staffing issues we are experiencing when there is staff illness or quarantine.
Unfortunately, the NLA will change from the In Person Model to the Hybrid Model starting on Monday, NOVEMBER 16, 2020. More information will be sent home tomorrow with your child and in an email so you have specific details about your child’s new schedule. At this time, we plan to use the hybrid model until Thanksgiving break and hope to move back to In Person learning on November 30th. We will send updates throughout the next couple of weeks to keep you informed.
In order for our staff to be prepared for using the hybrid model, we need to close school for this Friday, November 13th. There will be NO SCHOOL for students on NOVEMBER 13th, 2020.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the NLA office. Thank you!
Message from Assistant Special Education Director, Barb Mackey:
November 5, 2020
Dear Families and Staff,
School districts across Minnesota have been provided guidance by the Minnesota Department of Education and Minnesota Department of Health under what’s called the Minnesota Safe Learning Plan. These guidelines are meant to guide districts in maintaining a model of instruction that prioritizes in-person instruction while also protecting community health. One portion of the guidelines directs schools to put a number of safety precautions in place to minimize the spread of Covid-19 in schools. These guidelines include monitoring for signs/symptoms of Covid-19, ordering individuals to quarantine based on various factors, increased cleaning of school buildings, providing increased spacing between students and requiring masking. Our current evidence across the county suggests that these measures have been very effective in combating the spread of Covid-19 within our school.
Across the districts the NLA serves, there are a variety of models in use for different lengths of time. Each district is responding to the data within their schools. Yesterday evening, Cloquet School District announced a move to distance learning. This announcement does NOT include the Northern Lights Academy as we are a separate school district and need to make decisions based on the needs of our students and the data within our school. The NLA administration continues to monitor the plans each of the districts are using as well as the local data to make decisions for the NLA.
We all had hoped to be able to continue to use In Person learning even though other districts have needed to make a change, however, that is becoming harder to do. Due to the sharp increase in county data and the inability to fill vacancies when staff need to quarantine, the NLA does need to make a shift in the model we are using to educate students. The NLA staff have developed a plan which will follow Governor Walz’s latest executive order (20-94 dated 11-5-2020), keep students attending In Person as many days as possible while maintaining the health and safety of all students and staff and plan for when staff need to be quarantined due to illness or exposure.
We are required to discuss the change in the model we use with the Regional Team and Dept of Health and obtain their approval before we use it. We submitted a request for the consultation with them last night and have heard that they are scheduling the meeting for Monday, November 9th. We are confident that although we need to make a change, we will be able to continue as much in person instruction as possible.
There is no school on Monday due to a scheduled staff development day which was on the school calendar. Another update will be sent out Monday evening with more detailed information regarding the change in the model based on the meeting we have with the Regional Team. We are planning to continue In Person learning for the rest of next week. The change in model will be effective on November 16th.
Unfortunately, with the uncertainty of Covid-19, we are not able to predict everything and may need to respond to changes in the situation before that time. We will work hard to provide as much advance notice if changes are necessary prior to November 16th.
There is a lot about this pandemic that is out of our control. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate the ever-changing Covid-19 situation. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I will respond as soon as possible. If you reach our voicemail, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as we are able to do so.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding,
Barb Mackey, Assistant Director of Special Education
Message from Assistant Special Education Director, Barb Mackey:
October 30, 2020
Dear Parents/Families/Staff:
Northern Lights Academy Staff and Administration are continuing to monitor the local data regarding Covid-19 in order to provide the most effective educational opportunities for your students and keep students and staff healthy and safe. Our staff have worked very hard to follow the requirements put out by the MN Department of Health and that is evidenced by the low impact to students and staff in our schools.
We appreciate all of the support you are giving by monitoring your student and keeping him or her home when symptoms are present. We also are thankful for the calls regarding student absences because the student was exposed to a covid positive person and you decided to keep them home based on the information in the Decision Tree from MDH. This cooperation is helping to keep everyone safe at school and continuing our use of the In Person learning model at this time.
The local data is showing a significant increase in positive cases of Covid-19. The NLA Administration is planning to continue using the In Person model as long as possible, however, we know it may change. Our plan is to give you as much notice as possible. We encourage you to prepare for the possibility of distance learning so you and your family have a plan if we are needing to move to that model. At NLA, we are continuing to prepare for that possibility as well.
One of the ways we are preparing is to make sure students take home the materials that may be needed if we have to move to the Distance Learning model. Starting next week, each student will bring home the materials which they may need so they can continue their learning. This may include: the school issued chromebook (as well as a hotspot for those students whose families do not have internet access at home), task/activity packets, supplies to complete the tasks/activities, and anything else that may be needed for their education. Please make sure to have your child bring a backpack so we may send items home each day. Whatever comes home in the bag should return to school the next day if we are able to have In Person learning.
School staff are also preparing their google classrooms and their other learning activities should they have to be out of school due to Covid-19. This preparation should help all of us to continue your student’s learning with as little disruption in the schedule as possible. We hope that this preparation will not have to be used at all, but it is important to have it all ready.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we all work together to help your child learn. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or myself at the office or by calling/texting my google voice number at 218-451-2134. If it is after school hours, please use the google voice number and leave a message. I will return it as soon as possible if I am unable to answer it at the time you call or text.
Have a great weekend and stay healthy!
Barb Mackey, Assistant Director of Special Education
Message from Assistant Special Education Director, Barb Mackey:
August 28, 2020
Happy Friday!