LPOSD readies for upcoming school year

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SANDPOINT — Lake Pend Oreille School District Superintendent Tom Albertson is looking forward to parenting with parents and students to create a positive learning experience in the coming school year.

“Parents will be receiving communication directly from your child’s school on the upcoming year and I invite you to read the Lake Pend Oreille operational plan for the coming school year at lposd.org,” Albertson said.

While COVID-19 cases are rising in the county, Albertson said LPOSD’s hope is to minimize disruption to students’ learning as much as possible with school set to start Tuesday.

In creating its operational plan, the LPOSD takes all opinions of the plan seriously, trying to meet students’ academic, social and emotional needs, Albertson said.

“We all know the last year and half have been difficult for many, "Albertson said, “It is going to take all our parts to reduce disruptions to school and I am asking to please consider proper precautions for your students and family.”

The school district will not be shortening school days this year, Albertson said. Elementary students will be in their cohorts most of the day and the district’s school will be staggering lunches and will try to keep students from large gatherings.

In order to fill educational gaps from last year LPOSD has added more paraprofessional hours. This is in an effort to provide students with much needed one-on-one and small group instruction to help mitigate learning gaps.

So far for this year, LPOSD has seen a decrease in remote learning, but there are some families that will continue remote learning for at least the beginning of the school year, the superintendent said. To help, LPOSD students will continue to have access to the Idaho Digital Learning Academy.

Due to the recommendations of wearing a face covering when social distancing cannot be maintained, Albertson asks for parents to consider personal protection equipment options for their children.

“Also, please have a plan for child care if your child's education gets disrupted. This may be due to being positive for COVID, living in a household with an individual positive for COVID, or if we need to alter the school day in any way,” Albertson said.

Albertson encouraged parents and guardians to reach out to their children’s school if they have any questions about the upcoming school year.

For individuals 12 and older the COVID-19 vaccination can be received at the following sites or contact your primary care physician

_Sandpoint Super Drug - 208.263.1408

_Walmart Pharmacy - 208.265.4490

_White Cross Pharmacy - 208.263.9080 - by appointment

_Panhandle Health District - Appointments and clinic information available online at panhandlehealthdistrict.org