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August 16, 2021
. Masks a muSt as TurtleMountain School Opens doors
Volume 134 Number 42 '
Two Sections $1
Rolla, North Dakota 58367
By Jason Nordmark
Of The Star
Turtle Mountain Community School will
bring all students back into its buildings this
week and will require masks for everyone on
site, regardless of his or her vaccination sta—
tus.
Michelle Thomas, Turtle Mountain
School superintendent, said “crucial conver—
sations” with the public helped determine
how to approach the new school year.
“Most schools move forward once they re-
ceive the school board’s blessing. However,
we are very unique in comparison to public
schools in the state,” Thomas said. “We must
ensure that our Belcourt School District 7
Board, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE),
and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
Tribal Council support our action plan for
how we as a school provide instruction to our
students. Therefore, the process we follow is
an extremely lengthy one. However, the con-
stant dialogue results in a strong action plan
that educates our students while keeping
them in the safest environment we possibly
can.”
Thomas said the tribal council along with
Rolette County Public Health and Indian
Health Services worked “tirelessly” with the
district to put safeguards in place for the pro—
tection of students and staff. The school also
got an extra boost by working with Dr. Terry
Dwelle, an infectious disease specialist.
“We are guided by healthtexperts in rela-
tion to COVID,” Thomas said. “TMCS is
committed to following CDC guidance with
fidelity, even going above and beyond some
Turtle Mountain
(Continued on Page 8)
Rolla school won’t mandate ‘
A mother and daughter enjoy some play time together at Dunseith Day School,
which offers a
uniqu‘e classroom setting through its Family and Children Education
(FACE) program.
About FACE
Unique school program brings parents into classroom
By Jason Nordmark
Of The Star
Last year, Taylor Davis and Emmy Lenoir spent time
in school together and this year, the duo is going back
again.
That will be a common theme for a lot of children this
week, but in their case it’s unique. Taylor is Emmy’s
mother and they are a part of Dunseith Day
School’s Family And Children Education (FACE) pro-
gram. '
“It’s a great opportunity for any parent to be a part of
their child’s life, especially when it comes to education,”
Taylor said. >
Don Olson is the FACE program coordinator for the
school. He said it involves children who are three or four
years old working with their parentsand integrating,
learning into the home.
“The results have been amazing,”'Olson said. “The
three and four year olds become familiar with school and
We have some four year olds who are‘starting to read al-
ready.” . ,
Even with last year’s challenges of COVID—related
distance learning, Taylor said experiences in the FACE
program helped her understand her child better and
brought them closer together.
“It helped us bond,” Taylor said. “You can really learn
about how minds develop. When I would try and stay pa-
tient with her when it came to homework, she was more
patient, too. Watching her grow and see how patient (the
.“lt?s a great-opportunity for
any parent to be a part of their
child’s life, especially when it
cemes to eduCation.” .. f
' . Taylor Davis,parent'and
participant in Dunseith Day
School’s Familyand Children
' ., ' ' Education program
teacher) were helped us when we worked at home, too.”
Getting started
Taylor moved back to Dunseith last year and began
looking. for a head start classroom for her daughter.
Emmy didn’t turn three until February and by that time,
most 'of programs were full. ' " ' " " '
' '
“A family member recommended the FACE program,
so I called and said they would take her as soon as she
turned 3,” Taylor said. '
The mother and daughter went into the program in
February 2020 and the initial reaction was a surprise.
“I wasn’t expecting all the parent involvement. I
thought it would be just a regular head start,” Taylor said.
FACE
(Continued on Page 8)
masks to start school year
By Jason Nordmark
Of The Star
The Rolla School Board unani-
mously approved its health and
safety plan for the 2021-22 school
year.
“Right now, masks are optional,”
said Superintendent Brad Nash, re-
garding a key aspect of the state—re-
quired plan. Due to a law passed by
the ND. Legislature this year, the
school board will control every as-
pect of the safety blueprint.
“The N .D. Department of Health
cannot issue a mask mandate Nash
said. “Only you guys can make that
decision by looking at the situation
as it progresses.”
During the past year, school dis—
tricts were bound by Gov. Doug Bur-
gum’s color code COVID-19 chart.
Center for Disease Control’s daily re—
portas guidance.
Also at the board meeting, Nash
said masks would be required on all
the district school buses because the
district receives Federal Transporta-
tion Aid.
However, the following day, Nash
said after a state—wide meeting of su-
perintendents, it was determined that
local school districts will have the
choice of whether or not «masks will
be required on buses.
Nash said that decision will come
at a special meeting prior to the start
of the school year.
Another aspect of the safety plan
involved similar modes of operation
as last year which involved the avail-
ability of hand sanitizer throughout
the building and janitorial staff clean—
ing high-traffic areas several times a
' day.
“We’re also going to social dis-
tance best we can Nash said.
The superintendent also updated
the board on the upcoming issue of
Binax testing, which is used to detect
COVID. The test involves a lower
nostril swab and can be used for peo-
ple with and without symptoms.
Nash said he is working on the
guidelines for using the tests in the
school and a special board meeting
will be held in the future to review
the process and vote on whether or
not to approve use of the testing pro-
cedures.
Nash said other area schools are
utilizing Binax tests, which he said
could eliminate quarantine proce—
dures for people who come in close
contact with someone diagnosed
St. John, vDunise'ith «and Rolette
..makepolicydeterminations as
firstlday. of classes approach
For thej third time inithreegyears, school officials
are trying to, .naVigate the COVlD-‘19 pandemic.
; The yirusithatvdisrupted the last quarter or the
2019-2020 yearéis :still j‘puzz'ling? administrators as
they gear‘up for the Upcoming School year. . ‘
'RoletteCourtt'y school leaders are mixed on how
‘1 to approach the-192021522schooiiyear as it pertains
to'the virus; Of‘:all theiSsues officials are handling,
one that. is Hamstring thelmost attention. involves a
8m
"dtiash suggested the board follow the, ,_
,‘ll piece of-‘eleth that can be used to~ cover a
~ . éi-‘owaffaflam v
5' i
«swan-r
V in theater” since the
start of the pandemic, and a tour across Rolette
County? showsia mixed'reaction to whether and
school'staff and students should be- mandated to
Weara'mask'. ,. , , 3
It won’t bean option for students and staff in St.
John and ans'eith.’ StrJohnSuperintendent Paul
’Frydenltmd acknowledged not everyone is in agree-
ment;:With hisidecisiointo mandate mask wearing,
bUt he is basing thatfpolicy on data. and What he
feels is best for the students. I
“my, responsibilityjs (the health of the students
and'fie decided to take: guarded approach,” Fry- r
"denlund said. “This isespecially true for the 11 and
underswdentsthat have no'opportunity-to getvac-
. cinétéd.”
‘ Frydenlu‘nd cited an uptick‘in local cases, includ-
ing five confirmed last- Tuesday, and the highly-
transmissibie Delta variant as cause, for concern.
“it would be irresponsible‘if twe didn’t look out for
the kids.” .
p i 7, P0licy
-' (Continued on Page 8)
with COVID._ .all the Binax tests and Nash said he is
As-an example, he said athletes
who are deemed in close contact with
an infected teammate could take the
Binax test every other day and as
long as the result is negative, that in—
dividual could continue to participate
in games and practices.
“It keeps kids in school,” said Bret
McCloud, school board member.
The state will cover the costs of
working through those details. He
added the school will dictate the pro-
cedures involved with the testing.
Nash pointed out that vaccinated
individuals who come into close con-
tact with a COVID-positive individ-
ual will also avoid quarantine
Rolla
(Continued on Page 8)
Public health wary of virus outbreaks as school starts
By John Rosinski
Of The Star
With .hundreds. of students and staff
.headed inside for the start of school this
week, local health officials can’t help but be
concerned about COVID—l9 and any poten-
tial outbreaks.
Rolette County Public Health Nurse
CHECKINGOFFE’R FOR YOU
Renae Henderson said public health’s goals
mirror the school’s in that everyone wants in
person learning. How to keep everyone in
house and safe, however, will be daunting.
“We understand the schools are in a very
tough position right now,” Henderson noted.
-' “We all want to keep schools safe for kids,
staff and educators and keep face to face ed-
ucation as much as possible.”
A key to making that a reality is vaccina-
tions. All staff are eligible for an approved
vaccine along with students ages 12-18. Hen—
derson said health officials were in schools
throughout the summer encouraging staff and
students to get vaccinated. Approximately
48.6 percent of those 12-18 are up to date
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with coverage, besting the state average
which is just over 20 percent.
“The kids uptake in Rolette County has
been good, actually great and it’s rewarding
to see. It’s nice that the kids are wanting the
vaccine and I am hoping that encourages the
parents to receive it also. The vaccination is
not 100 percent but it does decrease the
severity of the disease and we are seeing it
reduce hospitalizations, length of hospital-
izations and event deaths from COVID.”
A critical question facing parents and stu—
dents is when kids under the age of 12 will
Public Health
(Continued on Page 2)
m.
