Pandemic impacts school enrollment numbers slightly

Enrollment numbers are down slightly in Cloquet, and superintendent Michael Cary said he's blaming the usual culprit these days: Covid-19.

In a discussion with Cloquet school board members Monday, Cary said open enrollment numbers are down between 25-30 kids this fall. At the same time, they've seen an uptick of about 20 kids who are homeschooling this year (which is different from distance learning, because it is not run by the school district), and a "giant decrease" in kindergarten numbers.

"It sounds like a national trend," Cary told the board. "I think a lot of parents were on the fence [...