School superintendents appeal to public to help slow spread of Covid-19

Carlton County superintendents joined a group of superintendents from 35 different school districts in the Northland to ask the public to follow guidelines to help stop the spread of Covid-19, which is spiking across the region and the state. Find the full text of the letter below:

Friday, October 8, 2020

To: Constituents in Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Pine and St. Louis Counties:

We’re writing to you today to ask for your help.

We are four weeks into the year and already schools in our seven-county region have had to adjust their learning models from either in-person to hybrid or hybrid to distance learning due to sharp increases in positive COVID-19 cases. This is disappointing for everyone involved.

We have been given requirements from the Minnesota Department of Health that we are following, and it is working. Across the state, there has been minimal transmission within schools. However, officials at MDH have said the COVID-19 virus is, for the most part, spreading outside of school – transmission is happening in community settings and at family and social gatherings.

We want our kids in school as much as possible. You, the great people in our communities, have said you also want our kids in school. We know of only one way that gives us the best chance at safely keeping our kids in school, sports, and activities.

We need your help. This information is nothing you haven’t already heard, but bears repeating as it’s going to take all of us to make a difference. Please – help us keep cases low and our kids in school by following the very clear guidelines offered by MDH:

⇒ Avoid crowds.

⇒ Keep family and social gatherings outdoors.

⇒ Stay 6 feet from others.

⇒ Wear a mask.

⇒ Wash your hands.

⇒ Stay home when sick.

Do it for our kids.

Sincerely,

Dan Stifter, Aitkin Public Schools

Mike McNulty, Barnum Public Schools

John Engstrom, Carlton Public Schools

Janey Blanchard, Chisholm Public Schools,

Michael Cary, Cloquet Public Schools

Bill Crandall & Megan Meyers, Cook County Public Schools

Nathan Libbon, Cromwell/Wright Public Schools

Jeff Pesta, Deer River Public Schools

John Magas, Duluth Public Schools

Erik Erie, Ely Public Schools

Aaron Fischer, Esko Public Schools

Rae Villebrun, Floodwood Public Schools

Matt Grose, Grand Rapids Public Schools

David Pace, Greenway Public Schools

Wayne Whitwam, Hermantown Public Schools

Richard Aldrich, Hibbing Public Schools

Pat Rendle, Hill City Public Schools

Kevin Grover, International Falls Public Schools

Bill Crandall and Jay Belcastro, Lake Superior Public Schools

Jamie Wendt, Littlefork/Big Falls Public Schools

Brad Johnson, McGregor Public Schools

Gregg Allan, Mesabi East Public Schools

Billie Jo Steen, Moose Lake Public Schools

Reggie Engebritson, Mountain Iron/Buhl Public Schools

Brenda Spartz, Nashwauk/Keewatin Public Schools

Peter Hardy, Nett Lake Public Schools

Dena Hagen, Northern Lights Academy

Brian Yuretich, Northland Learning Center

Pat Rendle, Northland Community Public Schools

John Engelking, Proctor Public Schools

Noel Schmidt, Rock Ridge Public Schools

Reggie Engebritson, St. Louis County Public Schools

Bill Peel, Willow River Public Schools

Kim Belcastro, Wrenshall Public Schools