Unvaccinated may be asked to stay home

Students who are not current on their vaccinations could be asked to stay home soon, Cloquet school superintendent Michael Cary said. State law requires that students be immunized, or that families who conscientiously object do that formally, he explained to school board members during Monday's meeting.

"We're getting really close. [We're] at the point where principals are going to be contacting the last remaining families," Cary said, noting that there was a "sizable list" of students who are not compliant with immunization requirements in a few grade levels.

Cloquet school district nurse Sarah Ellena said students are supposed to be current on vaccinations by the first day of school, but the district has been less strict about that since the pandemic.

"Since Covid, we have many families 'catching up' on immunizations so ... [we] have some flexibility and are allowing a later timeline of Nov. 27 this year," she said.

If students are unvaccinated and without paperwork, they will be "excluded" from school after that date.

"We will work with families to do all we can to meet the needs to avoid students missing school," Ellena said. "However, immunizations are very important for school health, and we are becoming more firm with requirements now that there has been time for families to get back into their providers."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on-time vaccination throughout childhood helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines use very small amounts of antigens to help the immune system recognize and learn to fight serious diseases. Antigens are the parts of a germ that cause the body's immune system to go to work. Immunizations also help stop disease from spreading from healthier children to those with weakened immune systems or who can't be vaccinated.

A chart of mandatory vaccinations is pictured next to this story, including a timeline for hepatitis A and B, DTaP, polio, MMR, pneumococcal and varicella shots, plus several optional vaccinations that are recommended but not required.

Families can't be forced to immunize their children, Cary said, but they have to come in and sign a notarized form stating that they conscientiously object or get a note from a medical doctor if the student can't be immunized for medical reasons. The school district has a notary on site.

So, parents still have freedom to choose, but they must state their objection for the record, versus just letting their child's immunizations lapse.

"We're just asking for compliance, just help us out," Cary said

Board denies leave

Upon the superintendent's recommendation, board members denied both a leave of absence request and a resignation by teacher Leah Lee, who has worked for the district as a special education paraprofessional and special education/junior high teacher. Lee wants to take a job as a Restorative Justice/Restorative Practice coordinator, something she became familiar with working at the Cloquet Area Alternative Education Program and a philosophy the entire school district has now embraced. The job is not within the school district.

Cary pointed out more than once that Lee is an excellent teacher and employee, but said he couldn't recommend approval.

"I personally can't support advocating for teaching staff leaving their jobs midyear," he said, adding that it is also a matter of making sure replacements know they won't be bumped if someone wants to come back.

The other issue was precedent. The board does not want to approve requests that are essentially a safety net for the departing employee, versus an enrichment opportunity from which the employee intends to return.

Last year, the board approved requests for overseas teaching with intent to return, and a request for leave to attend barber school and start a small business that would enhance a business teacher's knowledge of his subject matter. The business teacher has since returned.

Cary said he explained to Lee that it's not good for the kids and programming to allow teachers to resign in the middle of the year. When the board has approved resignations midyear, it's usually for retiring teachers who've given ample notice so a long-term sub can be arranged in advance.

Not accepting her resignation doesn't mean the teacher can't leave; but there could be consequences, perhaps deterring teachers from contemplating a similar move in the future, Cary said.

"The person will still leave," he said. "[That] puts them in breach of contract." The district will report that departure to the state licensing board, which could legally take someone's license, he explained.

"She really has done an excellent job. This isn't meant to be a slight," Cary said. "This is out of respect for the work they do. We really need them there to do the work for the children."

Board member Ken Scarbrough, a former superintendent, said the vote sets an important precedent.

"When people sign a contract for the district, we expect them to finish out that contract," Scarbrough said.

Final stadium touches

District facilities manager Brock Wilton said the new track at Members Cooperative Credit Union Stadium is being painted this week. Drainage issues outside the field and tennis courts are being addressed as well. And the varsity soccer teams and football team got to play one game each at the field last week.

"I'm glad we were able to use the field [and get] the seniors on it for at least one game," board chair Nate Sandman said.