Although the Circle of Life Academy is currently closed to students for in-school learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the school opened its doors for Katharine MacGregor, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Department of Interior (DOI) last Thursday.

Superintendent Jenna Leadbetter, right, demonstrates COLA’s Smart Bus to U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Department of Interior Katharine MacGregor on Thursday, Oct. 15. COLA was selected to participate in a pilot program that outfits a school bus with wi-fi. Photo by Gary W. Padrta
COLA is a Bureau of Indian Education grant school, and offers a comprehensive K-12 culturally-based education programs to Native American students on or near the White Earth Reservation.
The tour included discussions around distance learning, food and transportation, COVID mitigation, Ojibwe language and culture revitalization and the need for broadband access.