Superintendent Dr. Becky Meyer - Interviewed by Community Relations Liaison, Kristin Hawkins

Many schools in our district are hosting fall celebrations this upcoming week. Because of the high level of concern this year from parents, and the recent events in our area, we will be taking additional precaution as a district. Any candy accumulated in the festivities can be sent home with the students so that parents can make the determination at home about what is eaten; no candy consumption will be permitted in the classroom. The only exception would be if a teacher has obtained parent permission prior to the party.

For detailed information on closures and delays, please visit our website.

The District Safety Task Force has been fully committed to improving school safety in Lake Pend Oreille School District, meeting weekly since their inception in July of 2022. The task force is made up of individuals with a plethora of experience and knowledge, including Mark Fedderson. Mark, a retired law-enforcement officer, serves as an analyst for the Idaho Office of School Safety and Security (IOSS). In 2016, IOSS was formed by state legislation for the purpose of threat assessment, consulting, and safety-related training. This team, (which falls under the Idaho State Board of Education umbrella) created the "Move, Secure, Defend" protocol--recently adopted by LPOSD. All LPOSD schools will be trained in Move, Secure, Defend this year.

Mark explains that there are 3 key areas necessary to ensure school safety; they are prepare, plan, and prevent. Prevention comes in many forms, including locked entries, developing trusted student-adult relationships, helping all students to feel seen and valued, and active supervision. Prevention can also include an effective reporting system, for which LPOSD is using the state provided "See Tell Now" hotline (888-593-2835). He also emphasizes the importance of preparation through training and considering our responses in a lockdown situation in advance. In an emergency situation, people need to "be able to respond in seconds, rather than minutes," he states.

In addition to "Move, Secure, Defend" training and various prevention strategies, parents can also anticipate the installation of Raptor (visitor management system software) at every school in the coming weeks. Upon entering a district building, visitors will be asked to present an ID such as a Driver’s License, which will be scanned into the system. This will allow us to keep an account of visitors in the building and screen for sex offenders. The safety of students is our highest priority and we are pleased with the progress made toward enhancing school safety throughout LPOSD since the beginning of the school year. Thank you for your cooperation and participation with the new procedures.

Empowering Parents is an Idaho Program (funded by Federal Coronavirus relief funds) that aims to support Idaho parents and guardians in overcoming learning loss challenges related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The grant is $1,000 per student - up to $3,000 per family - and can be used to purchase educational goods and services. The money is controlled by parents. Eligible purchases include computers, internet access, tutoring services, therapies, etc. The funding is distributed in waves and the State of Idaho is currently processing the first wave for families who earn $60,000 or less. Next, they will consider applications for all families making $75,000 or less. In the third wave, families with higher incomes will be considered. Applications will continue to be considered until funding runs out. We highly encourage all of our families to apply soon!

There are just a couple of days remaining to contribute your gently used coats, hats, gloves, and other warm gear to the Coats 4 Kids drive. Please consider dropping off your donation at one of the drop sites. Also, for families who are in need of winter gear for your children: distribution will take at the Bonner Community Food Bank during the month of November.

Visitors and Veterans are welcome to attend LPOSD school assemblies in honor of the holiday.

For Questions contact 208-263-2184 ext. 1027.

(Not an LPOSD event - Kindly hosted by the Elks Lodge)