LPOSD seeking guidance for fall

SANDPOINT — Although Lake Pend Oreille School District does not have an answer for what education will look like in the fall, Superintendent Tom Albertson was encouraged by Gov. Brad Little’s words at the weekly AARP teleconference on Tuesday. Albertson plans to keep an open dialogue with parents and community members as information becomes available from now until the start of school in September.

“What school is going to look like in 90 days is a lot different than what school is going to look like today,” Albertson said. “There is a lot of work going in behind the scenes, but I don’t want to put something out there that may not happen. I need people to be patient.”

Little did not provide a formal plan for education during the meeting. Instead the plan will be formulated in partnership with Idaho State Board of Education.

However, Little said Idaho will be working to administer a minimum of 8,000 COVID-19 tests to meet new federal standards and a maximum of 23,000 tests if supplies continue to increase. Little is also considering a tiered testing system, where tests would be prioritized, first given to healthcare workers and out-of-state travelers.

“My goal is, ‘A’ to keep people safe, ‘B’ to restore the economy and ‘C’ to open the schools this fall, that’s probably one of my highest priorities and we have a plan to do that,” Little said.

According to Panhandle Health District, there have been four reported COVID-19 cases in Bonner County, with no new cases in over three weeks. Regardless of statistics, Albertson wants parents to know he is continually looking for ways to increase sanitation, hygiene practice and to resume school in a normal fashion, when deemed safe by PHD and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC released guidance for reopening schools last week, where health care officials provided recommendations for the fall school year such as a flexible attendance policy and teaching emotional support strategies.

Albertson said the school district should have criteria for the fall from ISBE by June 30.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, LPOSD board members unanimously approved Resolution 20-08 at the May 26 meeting, where the school district requested attendance to be waived for the final week of school. The last day of school is now May 29, where school staff will spend the first week of June collecting Chromebooks and textbooks from students.

All other agenda items were approved at the May 26 board meeting, which included a motion to designate the role of a school psychologist as a “hard to fill position.” Albertson said this is an annual distinction that is critical for receiving funding to employ an adequate staff.

“That allows for more reimbursement or ability to increase their salary, which helps in the recruiting and retaining school psychologists,” Albertson said. “It’s something that the board annually has to approve in order to receive that funding.”

A summer school plan was unanimously approved as well, which traditionally offers opportunities for eighth to eleventh grade students who are trailing behind to catch up on credits. Principal Geoff Penrose of Lake Pend Oreille Alternative High School put the plan together and “it does adhere to all the social distancing practices,” Albertson said. “There will be spacing and six foot distance between the computers and we use an online platform.”

Summer school will be held at Sandpoint High School in three different computer labs. Penrose’s plan allows for a maximum of 60 students and the schools will also have instant infrared thermometers on hand to check student’s temperatures. This plan was endorsed by PHD and it will be LPOSD’s first attempt at putting education physically back in the schools.

The board also agreed on an amendment that adapted previous terms for school facility use. As long as external groups have all individuals fill out a waiver and acknowledge the changed terms of agreement in response to the pandemic as well as abide by sanitation and social protocol, groups will be allowed to request use of the facility. Internal groups must submit a plan to their administrator that also follows CDC and PHD guidelines. Albertson said this addendum was in preparation for an increase of requests come Phase II of the state’s reopening plan on May 29. This was a policy change that did not require a vote.

The next school board meeting is on June 9 and will discuss the budget for the 2020-2021 school year.

Aly De Angelus can be reached by email at adeangelus@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @AlyDailyBee.