Understandably, there have been a lot of questions and concerns about reopening schools in the fall.  I have received several emails about information posted on social media as parents attempt to distinguish truth from rumors.  It is vital for you to have the facts when making decisions surrounding the education of your child(ren) and the only way to do that is to go to the source.  Please reach out to us at: 208-687-0431 or info@lakeland272.org — We are happy to answer any questions and often can clear up misunderstandings with one phone call.  I have addressed the most frequently asked questions below, but please contact us for additional clarifications.  

• Can the school district remove a student from school without contacting parents? 
  • Absolutely not –  we will never move or relocate students without notifying parents.  Even in the event of a school evacuation, our protocol requires the Superintendent notify parents of the location where the students are being transported and how the reunification plan will proceed. 
• If a student is feeling ill, will they automatically be quarantined? 
  • No – School Nurses will take the students temperature and ask them questions about symptoms, just like we normally do when a student shares that they feel ill.  Parents will be called if the student needs to be picked up to go home because they are not feeling well.  
• If a student within your son/daughter’s classroom tests positive for Covid, can someone come into the classroom and administer a Covid test without parent permission?
  • Absolutely not. ONLY parents can give permission to test their child(ren) and the district will NOT be administering tests at schools. 
• I heard masks WILL be mandatory. 
  • Masks are NOT mandatory in our district.  The Board approved Reopen Plan states, “Face coverings (masks/shields) will be recommended where social distancing cannot be maintained.” 
• Will students have their temperature taken daily and reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Panhandle Health District (PHD)? 
  • NO.  We are asking parents to take the temperature of their child(ren) at home and keep them home if it is elevated.  School Nurses will only be taking the temperature of kids who state they are feeling ill and reporting that to the parents.  We will not be sharing student temperatures with either the CDC or PHD. 
• If a student is diagnosed with Covid in your child’s class, can siblings be removed and taken into quarantine away from their family for two weeks?
  • Absolutely not – ONLY parents, or their pre-approved emergency contacts in Skyward, will be allowed to remove their child(ren) from school.   

We are here to protect and provide education for your child(ren) while they are at school.  We cannot successfully do this without a parent-school partnership.  Consistent communication will be even more important than ever in these ever changing circumstances. We pledge to keep parents well informed; we know and honor that the ultimate responsibility for all students rests with the parents.  Please take the time to reach out with any additional questions or concerns you may have as we move closer to the beginning of school.  The Board will be reviewing the LJSD Fall 2020 Reopen Plan at the August 11 and August 25 Board meeting to determine if any portion needs to be updated due to our community’s circumstances.  The Board values parent input and I encourage you to contact them (contact info is on the website) with any feedback you wish to provide. Thank you for being a partner in your child(ren)’s education and for taking the time to learn the facts – we appreciate your support, Dr. Meyer, Superintendent

Lakeland Online Academy

We know that families are anxious to plan for the start of school and we are excited to see our students again!  Beginning this year, we are introducing the Lakeland Online Academy to give our families more flexibility in our busy world.  We would like to get a sense of how many of our parents are interested in this educational option for their child(ren).  Please take a moment to answer the short survey found HERE. The information gathered will enable us to be fully prepared for the fall.

What Color Are We In?

One of the top questions on parent’s minds is which color of our LJSD Reopen Plan are we in?  On August 5, Panhandle Health District released their community spread categories, which will be updated each week.  The press release can be found below.

Panhandle Health District provides community spread categories for school districts in response to COVID-19 

This week, Panhandle Health District (PHD) began its official weekly assessment and reporting of categories of community spread for use by school districts in Kootenai, Bonner, Benewah, Boundary, and Shoshone Counties in their decision-making processes and operations for COVID-19. The categories are defined in the Idaho Back to School Framework, as approved by the State Board of Education in early July, and indicate what level of in-person learning and response is recommended.

The categories referenced below are only recommendations for the week indicated; final decisions are made by local school boards. Private and charter schools are recommended to use the category based on the address of their facility and associated school district boundary.

The metrics used to make the category determinations are based off of the Levels of Community Spread for Idaho Back-to-School Framework.

[For the week of August 3, 2020]

Category 1: No Community TransmissionWeekly assessments of community spread will be updated on Thursdays at www.panhandlehealthdistrict.org/COVID-19. If category designations are adjusted, then schools and families should expect transition time as changes may or may not be immediate.

• Category 2: Mild to Moderate Community Transmission
• Category 3: Substantial Community Transmission

If you have questions regarding COVID-19 in our area, call the Panhandle Health District hotline at 877-415-5225. The hotline is open Monday-Friday, 8am – 5pm. For up-to-date data on COVID-19 in our area, visit www.panhandlehealthdistrict.org/COVID-19. For data on COVID-19 in Idaho, visit coronavirus.idaho.gov.

BASE Registration Now Open!

Our BASE (Before and After School Enrichment) Program has opened fall registration for our families.  To enroll your child(ren), please follow THIS LINK to guide you through the enrollment process.  Our BASE program days, hours, and fees have been adjusted to support our LJSD Reopen Plan

LJSD Fall Athletics and Extracurricular Activities Plan

Our fall athletics and extracurricular activities will align with our LJSD 272 Fall Reopen Plan in terms of the color stage the District falls in.  CLICK HERE to view the plan.