Lake Superior School District Doubles Down on Restrictions to Online Learning
Dear Editor,
In 2021, voters approved a $41 million referendum with the promise of transforming district schools. Superintendent Belcastro enthusiastically declared: “We’re going to have windows, we’re going to have collaborative space. We’re going to really adjust the space to ensure it supports how kids learn today.” Yet those promises ring hollow as the district continues to impose restrictive policies that stifle the very innovation and flexibility needed to support modern learning.
The state of Minnesota provides families free access to supplemental online courses. For a small school like Two Harbors, this should be a golden opportunity. Online learning providers offer a wide range of courses—from Advanced Placement to specialized electives—that our district cannot feasibly offer in-house. Supporting student access to these options would not only expand opportunity but also help keep students enrolled locally.
Instead, the district continues to create roadblocks. A recent policy prohibits students from accessing their online programs during study halls, citing vague “security issues.” We are told it is the expectation that students complete their online work at home. This rule not only limits access to supplemental online courses but also shuts down other extracurricular learning opportunities. For a school whose small size is one of its greatest strengths, this approach is shortsighted.
If security were truly the concern, administration could use the same safeguards other schools already rely on— filters, monitored logins, and controlled access—rather than banning online access outright. The reality is, these restrictions are designed to discourage students from taking advantage of online courses, because every class completed outside the district reduces the per-pupil dollars flowing into its coffers.
By prioritizing dollars over students, the district risks driving students to seek full-time enrollment elsewhere—taking both their talents and state funding with them. Two Harbors High School could be leading with a balanced model that blends strong in-person teaching with flexible online opportunities. Instead, it is building walls where doors should be.
It’s time for the district to reconsider its stance. Aligning district policy with Minnesota’s commitment to accessible education would fulfill the spirit of the referendum—and deliver a learning environment that truly reflects how kids learn today.
Sincerely,
Chris Skadberg
Knife River, MN
