Per MDH and CDC recommendations, all those that enter the Chisago Lakes Schools are strongly encouraged to wear a mask. This includes staff, students, and visitors.
Families and staff are encouraged to make the best decision for them individually. If a family wishes for their child to wear a mask, please contact the school if we can help support you.
If our region sees an increase in COVID-19 spread, we will work in consultation with Chisago County Public Health to consider changes to our masking practices.

If masks are mandated by the government, the Chisago Lakes Schools will follow this mandate.

The State of Minnesota currently requires face coverings for all public transportation. This requirement currently applies to all occupants of school bus and district transportation for students (CDC reference).

This means students must wear a face covering for all situations (to and from school, field trips, athletics buses, etc.) in which they are boarding a school bus or other district transportation.

We will implement distancing to the extent possible within structures. Children will not be excluded to keep a minimum distance requirement.

Custodians will continue to thoroughly clean our schools after each school day. Specialized cleaning will continue to occur for outbreaks of illnesses.

Hand sanitizer stations will still be available and everyone is recommended to continue practicing good hand hygiene. 

Students and staff are expected to sanitize on their way in and out of classrooms. 

Fresh outside air will continue to be exchanged in all buildings at an enhanced level. Enhanced HEPA air purification systems are in use throughout the district.

All HVAC systems are operating at maximum air volume, and increased air operations begin two hours before buildings are occupied, and two hours after occupants have left our buildings.

The Chisago Lakes Schools will follow the latest guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health to determine the length of a quarantine. Positive individuals will continue to have a set length of time they will need to stay out of school – currently 10 days. Unvaccinated household members of positive students will need to quarantine at home for 14 days.  Vaccinated household members do not need to quarantine as long as they remain symptom-free.

An important strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home if you are sick.  The Chisago Lakes Schools cannot emphasize this more strongly.

Chisago Lakes Schools will work with the Minnesota Department of Health on specific positive COVID cases:

1. In the event of a positive COVID-19 case:
1. The school will notify the elementary grade level and homeroom teacher of a possible exposure. The child’s school bus and Kids’ Club will also be notified when applicable. 
2. Parents/guardians of middle and high school students will be notified if their child may have been exposed to an individual who tested positive in their classrooms and on the bus as we are able to determine. 
2. If your child has possibly been exposed to COVID-19, monitor your child for symptoms, keep them home if they develop symptoms, and consider having them tested. For further information, click here.
3. A student who tests positive will be required to isolate for a minimum of 10 days. Please notify your child’s school to report a positive case in your family. Unvaccinated household members of positive individuals will need to quarantine at home for 14 days.  Vaccinated household members do not need to quarantine as long as they remain symptom-free. 
4. Students, regardless of vaccination status, who have possibly been exposed to a positive case in the school setting will not be required to quarantine unless they are showing symptoms, but they may if they wish.
5. Students who develop COVID-like symptoms while at school will be promptly sent home. Students will be required to wear a mask in the health office while waiting for pickup.
6. If any individual school reaches 5.0% or higher of positive COVID cases and cases of COVID-like symptoms (student and staff population), the Chisago Lakes School District will consult with Chisago County Public Health to review the current guidance and make appropriate adjustments to our plans.

**Percentage of positive cases are based upon the total of students and staff members at the site.

Please contact your child’s teacher or teachers for any work while on quarantine. COVID-related absences from school are excused.

As was done last year, positive COVID-19 cases are treated as a communicable illness and will be reported to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Public health officials will direct Chisago Lakes Public Schools on any actions that should be taken.

All positive COVID cases in the household should be reported to your children's school.

Testing is recommended for individuals if they suspect COVID-19. If you require assistance in finding or scheduling a COVID-19 test, please contact Chisago County Public Health at 651-257-1300 or find additional information on their webpage.

Testing is recommended for individuals if they suspect COVID-19. If you require assistance in finding or scheduling a COVID-19 test, please contact Chisago County Public Health at 651-257-1300 or find additional information on their webpage.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has voluntary COVID testing options for schools. We have been provided at-home rapid tests available for students.  These voluntary take-home tests are only to be administered at home. Please note that we were only allocated 1 box per student so far this school year (2 tests in each box). 

PK - Grade 5

Parents may pick up a COVID test kit by coming to school to pick-up in-person at the times listed below during regular school days. Test kits will not be sent home with students.  The tests are to be administered at home. 

Primary School:  9:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. 

Taylors Falls: 9:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

Lakeside: 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

 

Grade 6 - 12

Parents MUST request a COVID test kit for it to be released (see below).   

These tests must be used at home with parent involvement for administration and result interpretation. 

No tests are allowed to be administered directly on campus.   

Once a parent requests (see below) a test kit, it can be picked up in the health room by the student Monday through Friday from 2:00-2:30 pm or they can be picked up directly in the front office by the parent from 8:00-2:00 pm Monday through Friday.

To request a test for your child, please click the following. 

• Chisago Lakes High School (form)
• Chisago Lakes Middle School: Please contact Mrs. Nielsen in the health office either by phone or via email. jnielsen@isd2144.org or 651-213-2405

You can learn more about the test provided by the State, the BinaxNow COVID test, here.  

Additional options for testing can be found here.

COVID-19 vaccination will not be required (including any verification) for staff or students. However, if a staff member or family chooses to voluntarily provide vaccination information we will accept it in support of their health status.

Requiring vaccines for students would require changes to legislative language, found at MN Statute 121A.15. The Coronavirus vaccine is not currently listed. Unless that state language is changed, the coronavirus vaccine will not be required for students. 

Staff vaccination requirements are not being considered at this time. 

If you require assistance in finding or scheduling a vaccination appointment, please contact Chisago County Public Health at 651-257-1300 or find additional information on their webpage.

Students will have assigned seats on district transportation. Students must continue to wear face coverings per State of Minnesota guidelines.

Breakfast and lunch routines will generally return to normal. Breakfast and lunch will be free for all students during the 2021-22 school year through the Federal School Lunch program. A la carte options for students in grades 2-12 will be available for purchase through student lunch accounts. If your student will  be purchasing extra milk, an extra meal or A la carte options, they will need money in their account.

 We strongly encourage all families to complete an Application for Educational Benefits to receive potential discounts on sports and activities, Community Education classes, and to qualify for pandemic-EBT benefits. 

Field trips may occur throughout the school year. Face coverings must currently be worn on all public transportation, including school buses. Individual venues may have health guidelines in place that are more restrictive than the current state requirements. 

Health staff will continue to implement best practices for separating ill students from healthy individuals as much as possible.

An important strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home if you are sick.  We cannot emphasize this more strongly.

Students and staff are required to conduct an at-home self-check of COVID symptoms (link) and are expected to stay home if they experience any symptoms or other illnesses. Sick students will be sent home if they have a fever (100.0 or above), vomiting or diarrhea. Students with these symptoms will be expected to stay home for 24 hours after symptoms have subsided. Health staff will follow the latest MDH guidance related to students who show COVID-like symptoms. 

The Chisago Lakes School District will follow the MSHSL 2021 COVID Recommendations.

COVID Return to Play Protocol will be followed and the athletic trainer will carry out the protocol.

Parents and participants will be notified via email when a member of their team/group tests positive for COVID.

Bullying and Harassment is not acceptable in our schools and “mask-shaming” and COVID-related teasing will not be tolerated.

The School Board policies 102, 401, 402, 413, 514 and 521 support our efforts to ensure students and staff are in a safe, respectful environment.

Visitors will not currently be limited beyond our normal visitor policy.  However, if a site reaches 5.0% or higher of positive cases of COVID-19, or COVID-like symptoms, allowing visitors in a building may be temporarily suspended.

Visitors to our schools are strongly recommended to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. 

If our region sees an increase in COVID-19 spread, we will work in conjunction with Chisago County Public Health and our school board to consider changes to our visitor practices.

As a parent or guardian, you can update your contact information online thorough ParentVUE or by calling your child’s school. Early Childhood contact information can only be updated by phone. You only need to update your information once for all of your children.  

How to update your contact information online in ParentVUE (0:41 video)

Chisago Lakes School District will continue to maintain its dashboard and website, which will provide the number of weekly, confirmed positive cases (student and staff), as well as any relevant COVID-19-related information.

We welcome your questions, but please know for specific building-level information, that information will be released in the coming weeks as buildings reopen for the fall.  For general questions, please reach out to communications@isd2144.org .