LAKELAND - Teachers and staff at Northern Lights Public Schools (NLPS) have made changes to teaching assignments so less people are in contact with each other — meaning less would have to isolate if anyone was to contract COVID-19.
Bill Driedger, associate superintendent of teaching quality and professional services, says that the division staff recently went through an exercise to help determine ways they can keep the spread of COVID-19 low in its schools, and have it impact the least amount of people.
The ‘what-if’ scenario tracked the activities of a few students in their daily activities, to determine touch-point areas, and possible direct contact areas where the virus could be passed along.
“We randomly selected a few students in each school and then asked ourselves if that individual was virus-positive, how many students, and how many staff would be required to isolate,” said Driedger, explaining that the exercise found some areas where more work needed to be done. “Once we did that, there were some significant changes made in our buildings.”
The exercise has altered how assignments are given out and collected, and some class schedules. The findings have also forced administrations to adjust the activities of cohorts to minimize the amount of people each student and staff member is in contact with during the day.
Although in-school transmission of the virus has been low and the majority of the cases have been contracted through the community, Driedger says that doesn’t mean school officials are taking the virus lightly. The recent test cases are examples of the work to continually improve safety measures.
“It allows us to do a better job, and it allows us to make sure we are continuing to instruct our students by limiting the number of staff and students required to isolate,” he said, adding a word of thanks to school staff for their continuing efforts.
“I just want to share my appreciation for the work that our staff are doing and are undertaking on a daily basis to make sure our students are safe.”
