Cloquet Board OKs move to new emergency communication system

On Monday, the Cloquet school board took a vote that made students and staff safer AND saved the district money.

Instead of spending between $100,000 and $180,000 to replace the district’s aging walkie-talkie system — many of the devices are failing and often don’t work throughout the buildings — board members voted to switch the district to an emergency cellular network.

Rather than walkie-talkies, the district will purchase FirstNet iPhones (at a cost of 99 cents each) with a Push-to-Talk app that operates like a walkie-talkie and communicates with other users on the same network.

Unlike a walkie talkie, the FirstNet phones will operate anywhere they have a cellular signal or district WiFi.

That’s especially important at Cloquet High School, which is notorious for its cellular dead zones.

“Steve (Battaglia) and I tested every corner of our building and got perfect reception,” CHS assistant principal Tim Prosen said.

“Even if you’re at a state tournament out of town, you’re gonna beep,” said board member and Carlton County IT staff member Duane Buytaert, who has firsthand experience with the network, as the sheriff’s department has been using it for about a year.

Cloquet superintendent Michael Cary explained that FirstNet uses a different frequency than most cell phones, one that is more effective inside the buildings.

“Part of the issue now with walkie-talkies is that the new digital walkie-talkies don’t penetrate walls as well as the analog ones did,” he added. “And the monthly service fee is $40 so it’s really reasonably priced, especially when you consider we’re already providing cell phones to a number of people that need to be available.”

Steve VanKekerix, Carlton County sheriff’s office and systems administrator, said Cloquet will join Esko and Carlton school districts in using the FirstNet system.

VanKekerix explained that FirstNet and public safety have preemption over everyone else, so even if a network gets overloaded with calls, users on FirstNet won’t get a busy signal.

“It would actually kick someone off so our phones would work,” he said, explaining that FirstNet is a national network, but also expanding rapidly across the state.

Also at Monday’s meeting:

-The board heard from a parent who thinks that sixth-graders should not bring iPads home because of their age and the wider variety of things they can access on the internet when they’re not on the school’s WiFi. Middle school principal Tom Brenner said he has talked with staff about the issue, and expects to do more teaching around the subject.

-The board accepted the resignation of Kevin Hamre as fall musical director. A longtime director at CHS, Hamre resigned before, but stepped back into the role after director Landon Hall died unexpectedly last summer. Hamre has other obligations which will interfere with directing next year, and signed off his retirement letter with “Long Live CHS Theatre!” The board also approved a posting for the musical director for the 2020-21 school year.

-Accepted a $1,000 donation to the high school’s Ripsaw Robotics program from the Northland Foundation.

-Made an adjustment to the 2020-21 school year calendar. School will start on Sept. 9 in 2020, because of a very late Labor Day, Cary explained. The winter break next school year will run Dec. 23-Jan. 3, and spring break is set for March 27-April 4, 2021. Graduation will be May 28 and the last day of school will be June 4.