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The Chisago Lakes High School will be implementing a distance learning reset period for grades nine through 12 starting on Friday, October 9 after multiple students have tested positive for COVID-19.

In an e-mail to parents, the district announced the plans because of the tests. “The confirmed cases are identified, but contact tracing and notification of close contacts in the school setting cannot be completed within 24 to 36 hours,” the e-mail said.
With the multiple positive tests, over 60 students are currently being required to quarantine because of either being in close contact with the positives or having COVID-like symptoms. The district did stress that this is only at the high school, and that Pre-K through middle school as well as Chisago Lakes Education Center will remain in a hybrid model.

“We have worked collaboratively with the MDH to identify those who had close contact with a positive COVID-19 person in our facilities, and have communicated with them individually,” the e-mail announced, which was signed by High School Principal Dave Ertl, School Nurse Laura Gustafson and Superintendent Dean Jennissen. “A two-week “reset” will prevent continuous instances of large groups of people in our school who need to quarantine, potentially spanning several months. This reset will allow staff to coordinate with local and state health officials to complete contact tracing and develop a clearer picture of the COVID-19 situation impacting us. By switching our scenario now, we can hopefully prevent prolonged absences from school and return to in-person hybrid learning as soon as possible.”

The e-mail outlines how the schedule for the next two weeks will work.

• Friday, Oct. 9, will be used for staff to plan for the 14-day distance learning reset. No new content will be delivered on this day.

• Distance learning will begin on Monday, Oct. 12.  

• Friday, Oct. 23, will be used for staff to plan for students to return to the Hybrid in-person model on Oct. 26. No new content will be delivered on this day. This is a student contact day but students will use this as an opportunity to hand in missing assignments, projects, etc.

• If students are in immediate need of a device (this means your family does not have a device that students may access for Distance Learning at all), please contact Liz Valleen at [email protected]

• If materials are needed for a specific course, teachers will communicate with their students and arrange for pick-up.

• This hybrid “reset” only impacts Green and Gold students' education. Wildcat Academy students will continue to work in their current  remote learning model.

Activities also put on hold
That also means activities, including sections and the opening of the volleyball and football seasons, will be on hold. All MSHSL activities are suspended and rescheduling of events will occur where and when possible working within the MSHSL guidelines. Activities will resume on Monday, October 26 if the district is able to return to the hybrid model.

Community Center to be open to members
The Wildcat Community Center will remain open to members only. All Community Education classes and rentals at the Community Center and high school will be cancelled.

Food Service
Students under the age of 18 living within the school district continue to be eligible for free breakfast and lunch in a distance learning model.  Curbside meal pick-up is every Monday at the High School PAC door (door number 33 on the west side) from 9-11 am, no pre-registration required.  

Please wear a mask and enter the PAC door.  Community members will be greeted by a staff member who will need to know how many students they are picking up meals for and what grade and learning model they are following.

The district asked students that are off to treat the next two weeks as an “informal quarantine.”

“We anticipate returning on Monday, Oct. 26, but we will provide final guidance on Friday, Oct. 23, utilizing the latest data,” the e-mail said. “If it is safe to return to our in-person hybrid model, we will do so.”

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