NExA goes into 'red,' middle schools will move to blended learning

Northwest Expedition Academy (NExA) has gone into "red."

The Coeur d'Alene School District announced Wednesday that a staffing shortage related to positive COVID-19 cases and associated quarantines for exposed personnel has reached the point that on-site services in the building will be temporarily halted.

All teaching and learning is shifting to the at-home model. The building closure includes the School PLUS child care program at NExA.

This change will go into effect Thursday and is expected to continue through next week. The goal is to resolve the staffing challenge before the end of Thanksgiving break, Nov. 23-27. The district intends to have all students back in person starting Nov. 30.

Substitute teachers and district resources have been relied upon during staff absences this month to ensure the school could remain open. This week, NExA reached critical shortages among teachers and instructional support staff, as well as in other key positions. It became clear that these shortages would compromise the ability to effectively serve students in the building.

NExA administration and teachers will shift to providing the same level of remote instruction that has been available the past few Wednesdays. This will be the primary focus for the remainder of this week and all of next week. The district is in the process of developing a Chromebook distribution plan for NExA students.

Grab and Go meals will be available Monday through Friday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at Woodland, Canfield and Lakes middle schools while NExA is closed.

Beginning Nov. 30, Coeur d'Alene middle schools will join Lake City and Coeur d’Alene high schools in the original blended learning model: half of students attend in person Monday and Tuesday, half attend in person Thursday and Friday and the other days are remote learning. If staffing shortages grow critical, it may become necessary to implement this schedule change sooner for one or more of the middle schools.

As of Wednesday, Coeur d'Alene had 34 students and 28 employees currently isolated with COVID-19. In addition, 524 students and 76 staff members are quarantined after coming into close contact with someone who tested positive.

"We have worked diligently to adapt to the circumstances of this pandemic, while emphasizing safety measures and keeping students attending school in person to the extent we feel is safe and practicable," a later Wednesday announcement stated. "The current levels of staff and student absences, which we expect to continue, compel us to make further changes in school operations. Staff shortages have occurred among teachers and classroom support staff, as well as in operational support, including maintenance and custodial staff, transportation, office staff and Nutrition Services."

The district urged families to please help lower the rate of transmission of COVID-19 to get students and staff back into our schools.

"It’s absolutely essential that you stay home from school if you are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, have been exposed to it, or have tested positive, even if you are not feeling ill. Please do not come to school sick under any circumstances. If a student has been tested and receives a positive test result, please call the school immediately to let us know. At this time of high case counts in our community, we may have no other way or learning of new positive results, which we need in order to conduct contact tracing that could protect others from illness and possibly hospitalization.

"Please continue to wear your masks in public settings, wash your hands frequently, and limit your time in crowds. Also, each student should have a temperature check every morning before leaving the house. Your cooperation, support and understanding will help us succeed."