Use the information below to assist your child with accessing their digital classroom tools during 2020-21 school year.

Student Account Information
In order for students to access their digital learning resources for school, students should first login to the My ISD 728 Rapid Portal at https://my.isd728.org and then use the available buttons to access apps.  The My ISD 728 Portal is set up to allow students to gain access to many of our classroom digital resources tools by using a single username and password, eliminating the need to remember multiple logins or navigate personal bookmarks. 

Help: How to look up child’s login: username and password in Parent Portal

Student Devices 
Need a chromebook, power adapter or replacement device?  Devices and replacments are available when students are onsite at their school. To make other arrangements for pickup, please use the contact info below.

• Students in Grades K-2 receive an iPad for use at school and home. In some situations a Chromebook may be issued until iPads arrive. 
• Students in Grade 3-12 receive a Chromebook for use at school and home.

Student Device Plan Sign-Up (same process for iPads or Chromebooks) Parents use Campus Portal to indicate each student’s device needs (example video available). 

1. Signing into Campus Parent Portal
2. Using the Portal menu’s School Store option. 
3. Choosing the student’s school store. 
4. Choosing Student Device, and adding the desired plan for the student (repeating these steps for each student). Choose Needs Device if not already issued one from the prior school year, as well as optionally add a $15 protection plan.

Getting Started Help
Directions & Resources for common apps like SeeSaw and Schoology:

Visit: Tech directions for students and families

If you are new to caring for a school issued device, review the Quick Start Guides

• Chromebook: www.isd728.org/QuickChromebook  (or Chromebook User Guide)
• iPad: How to use the iPad
• Setting up your home learning space? Review these Ergonomic Tips

More at: www.isd728.org/DigitalLearning

Support, repair, and replacement options

Need help using class materials or websites?

Please contact your class teacher for help by sending an email or leaving a voicemail. Contact information is available here.  They will contact you during school days, it may take a day to hear back.

Wifi issue? Unable to sign in? Other issues?

Call (763) 241-3490 or visit www.isd728.org/LetsChat for assistance.

Support is available 8:00am-4:00pm M-F during the school days. 

Need a chromebook, power adapter or replacement device?
Replacement devices are available when students are onsite at their school. To make other arrangements for pickup, please use the contact info above.

Support For Using a Home Device
Only isd728.org gmail accounts are configured for Rapid Portal access. Families should make sure students are signed using the student’s account instead of other personal accounts to ensure access is allowed. If students are using a personally owned device at home, Chrome browser is recommended for accessing student links and school resources. Students can be added to Chrome as a separate person and Signed into Chrome to simplify access. For shared devices, this also separates access to school resources from family use to avoid sign-in issues between all accounts using the device. The user guides listed below can assist you with this process. 

• How to Switch Between Multiple Accounts in Chrome
  or view Video Tutorial
• How to sign into Chrome on a computer/laptop
• How to sign into Chrome on an Android device
• How to sign into Chrome on an Apple device (phone or iPad)

If you do not have the Chrome browser on your device, download and install using the resources below

• FOR COMPUTERS
• FOR ANDROID DEVICES
• FOR APPLE DEVICES

Students and staff should stay home when they have signs of ANY infectious illness. Consider contacting your healthcare provider for further information and/or if symptoms worsen.

• Children need to stay home if they have symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19.
• Call your child’s school attendance line to report the absence, describe symptoms or relay positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
• Children that arrive ill at school will be evaluated by Health Services staff and parents will be called to pick them up from school if their child is exhibiting symptoms of any infectious illness. 
• If contacted to pick up your child, please do so within 30 minutes.
• If a COVID-19 test is issued, do NOT send a student to school until the test results are received. 

Signs and Symptoms of an Infectious Illness include:

1. 1. Fever 
   2. Chills and sweats
   3. Change in cough or a new cough
   4. Sore throat or new mouth sore
   5. Shortness of breath
   6. Nasal congestion
   7. Stiff neck
   8. Diarrhea
   9. Vomiting
   10. Pain in the abdomen
   11. New onset of pain 

According to the Minnesota Department of Health guidelines, students will be excluded from school for the following reasons: 

1. A fever of 100.4 degrees F (orally) or more, the student needs to stay home until 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal, without fever reducing medication. 
2. Vomiting or diarrhea, the student needs to stay home for 24 hours after the last episode. 
3. Any undiagnosed rash at the health services staff discretion, the student needs to see the physician before admittance to school.

Updated 8/31/2021

Does the District have metrics to make different decisions about masking and other mitigation strategies if necessary? 

Yes, the District has draft metrics, but there is no exact formula as public health officials consider many variables. However, what we can tell you is that we use local ISD 728 data as the primary source, but consider community and county data as well. ISD 728 would prefer not to do an "all or nothing approach," when considering different mitigation strategies and/or instructional models, and instead, prefers to address specific classrooms, grade levels, and/or schools. In addition to the number of positive COVID-19 cases, the ability to staff buildings and classrooms is also a major consideration. Right now, public health guidance has been to make changes when there are 3 or more cases in a confined space and 5% of populations testing positive.

What mitigation strategies are being used by the District?

The District will implement mitigation strategies to the best of its ability, and maintain its Dashboard on its website to keep parents and our community updated.  ISD 728 will also continue to monitor the number of cases, and to make adjustments to practices as more data and information becomes available.

Specific mitigation strategies and efforts are available on the District’s website at www.isd728.org/COVID-19.

Is community feedback helpful and how will decisions about COVID-19 be made?

Yes, District Officials are grateful for the continued feedback from families and our community members, and use it as a consideration when making decisions.  We know there are strong feelings on both sides of the issue and will continue to make decisions based on local data and recommendations from our local health experts.  

Will my student be required to have a COVID-19 vaccine?

No. While the CDC and MDH recommend a vaccine, it is not a required vaccine for attendance at school. Keep in mind there are several other vaccines that are required by the state to attend in-person learning. Check with your health care provider to make sure your student is up to date on all required vaccinations.  All ISD 728 students will be welcomed regardless of COVID vaccination status.

Why did the School Board pass a resolution to give the Superintendent decision-making authority to make COVID 19-related decisions? Was that a needed change?

Superintendents across the State have had authority to make decisions before and since the Governor’s Executive Order. The reach this decision after consultations with state and local health officials, neighboring district leaders and the leadership team within ISD 728.

What the change DOES do is make that decision-making process more official and transparent, with an added oversight from the Board, who can collectively review changes at its next regular meeting if/when there is a change in practice enacted by the District.

Said differently – the recent action by the Board wasn’t a change in policy, but one that was recommended by the Department of Education, the Minnesota School Board Association, and legal counsel.  

Will my student be tested on a regular basis? Will the District offer vaccines?

No and no.  The CDC and MDH recommend testing for any student who has NOT been vaccinated, but ISD 728 will not be testing students. Nor will it be offering the vaccines.

However, if a student or family wants information about how they can get access to testing and/or vaccines, we will work with local public health officials to get them information. 

Will there be increased cleaning protocols implemented throughout our schools?

Yes, increased cleaning protocols will be implemented in each of our schools.

Will students and staff be expected to complete any type of “wellness assessment” prior to entering our schools?

Yes, students and staff will be required to complete a “school self-screening checklist” prior to entering school district property.  

Will disinfecting cleaning routines are being done? 

Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting for COVID-19 will be done by custodial staff with assistance from all other staff as needed throughout the day. General “high touch” areas will be cleaned and sanitized regularly by custodians and other employees. Staff will have access to supplies for more regular cleaning.

What do I do if I think I should have my student tested for COVID-19?

First, visit the MDH website and find a reliable testing location, or contact your child's healthcare provider. STUDENTS and families may also contact the District for ONE (1) test that can be found at the District Office in Elk River. DO NOT send the student to school while test results are pending. This has been one of the quickest ways the District has seen cases spread througout classrooms. Once a negative result is received, the student can return to school. 

Masks are required throughout the United States when using public transportation (i.e. planes, buses, taxis, etc.), which includes school buses, per a federal Executive Order.

In summary, masks are required on all buses (including any buses/vans used for before/after school activities and field trips) and other Vision Transportation vehicles. Masks are recommended, but not required at all ISD 728 buildings, regardless of vaccination status.

You've got questions, we've got answers.

Visit www.isd728.org/contact to submit a question, comment or concern.

COVID-19 Resources

• Talking with your children about COVID-19
• Community Resources
• MDH Latest COVID-19 Updates
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Please Note: ISD 728 does not endorse any of these websites below, our goal is to provide users with resources that may be helpful to them and their families

Food Shelves

• Food Shelf and Pantry Options
• CROSS Food Shelf - Rogers
• CAER Food Shelf - Elk River
• Food shelf will be available by appointments only, effective March 18, 2020 through at least March 27, 2020. Please call 763-441-1020 to schedule. Additional food for families with school age youth will be available during this time with an appointment.
• St. Paul's Food Shelf - Hanover
• Catholic Charities: call 320-229-4584 for delivered frozen meals
• Clearwater/Clear Lake Emergency Food Shelf: 320-558-2954
• Becker Food Shelf: 763-261-4612
• Big Lake food Shelf: call 763-263-2432
• Princeton Pantry Food Shelf: call 763-631-3578
• Salvation Army St. Cloud: call 320-252-4552
• MN Food Helpline: 1-888-711-1151, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Multilingual assistance. They assess your situation and provide solutions to help meet your family’s food needs.

Mental Health

• Minnesota Mental Health Emergency Resources
• Youth Suicide Warning Signs
• SAVE- Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
• Teen Line Online
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

If you are in crisis, you may want to contact a crisis line to speak to a mental health professional immediately. Please see below for crisis resources:

• Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line: text "HOME" to 741741
• Four County Crisis Response Team: 1-800-635-8008
• The Trevor Lifeline (for LGBTQ youth): 1-866-488-7386
• Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860

If this is an emergency, please call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room.

If you are concerned about the safety of another individual, please call 9-1-1 immediately to arrange for help and support.

County/State/Support Options

• Community Resources
• MNSure: Medical Assistance and Minnesota Care
• DHS ApplyMN: Cash Assistance, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Child Care, Emergency Assistance
• MDE Covid-19 and Unemployment Benefits

How to Talk with Children about the Pandemic

• Coronavirus Questions for Kids
• Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus - NPR
• Talking to Children about Covid-19 - Parent Resource from NASP
• Talking To Kids About the CoronaVirus - ChildMind
• Talking to Teens and Tweens about the CoronaVirus - NYTimes 
• Manage CoronaVirus Anxiety: Expert Videos for Kids and Grown-Ups - GoZen
• How to Talk to your Kids about Coronavirus - PBS Kids
• Coronavirus: Multilingual Resources for Schools 

Mindfulness Resources & Activities

• Mindfulness for Distance Learning
• Yoga with Adrienne
• Calm App

Please Note: ISD 728 does not endorse any of these websites, our goal is to provide users with resources that may be helpful to them and their families