Lake Superior School District Policies Limit Student Opportunities
Dear Editor,
As a parent in the Lake Superior School District, I am deeply concerned about policies that restrict our students’ access to educational opportunities, particularly for those seeking advanced or supplemental learning options. I urge our community to take notice and act. The district’s decision to no longer offer Intermediate Algebra to 8th-grade students at Two Harbors High School is a significant setback. This change extends Algebra I into a two-year course for all students, which may significantly impact their ability to reach more advanced math courses during their high school years. By slowing their progress in middle school, students risk missing the opportunity to take Precalculus and Calculus before graduation, courses that are increasingly critical for college preparation, particularly in STEM fields. Neighboring districts, like Duluth, offer accelerated math tracks and flexible online options, yet our district lags behind. Further compounding the issue, Two Harbors High School does not allow seventh and eighth graders to take advanced courses—such as Geometry—even when they are academically ready. Moreover, when eighth-grade students do take high school-level Geometry online, the district refuses to grant them high school credit for it. These policies deny motivated students the recognition and support they deserve and place unnecessary barriers in front of academic advancement. Families seeking alternatives are forced to explore options like Eden Prairie Online, a state-approved platform that provides quality online learning at no cost to families. However, the district’s late start/early release policy creates significant obstacles to accessing these opportunities. Students taking supplemental online courses are required to leave campus during periods not assigned to in-person classes—even when supervised spaces like the library or study hall are available and staffed. Depending on their in-person schedule, students must either arrive late or leave early. As a result, students who rely on school transportation are effectively shut out of these online opportunities. The policy appears designed to discourage students from pursuing supplemental options—not because of safety or logistics, but because students enrolled in supplemental online courses generate less state funding for the district, as a portion of per-pupil aid follows the student to the online provider. The lack of advanced academic opportunities has forced many families into tough decisions— enrolling their children in full-time online programs, transferring to other districts, or even moving away altogether. Our district must do more to retain and support advanced learners. I urge parents to contact their school board representatives and advocate for policies that put students first. This includes revisiting the late start/ early release policy and ensuring that students enrolled in supplemental online learning have full access to school resources—such as libraries and study halls—so they can fully participate in their education as members of the school community. Our students deserve a district that champions opportunity—not one that creates barriers to growth.
Sincerely,
Chris Skadberg
Knife River, MN
School Board Members: Al Ringer aringer@isd38.org, Dean Korri dkorri@isd381.org, Jeff Radle jradle@isd381.org, Steve VanHouse svanhouse@isd381.org, Tracy Tiboni ttiboni@isd381.org, Cyndi Ryder cryder@isd381.org, Norbert Norman nnorman@isd381.org
