Havre schools move fully to remote learning

Remote learning began in full Monday for Havre Public Schools students.

“For each of our buildings it’s kind of we are trying to get our feet wet, the parents are getting their feet wet, so we are kind of learning as we go,” Superintendent Andy Carlson said.

He said the district is continuing to pass out Chromebooks to families and people who are in need of one can contact the Robins Administration Building at 395-8550.

People are glad to get some work, he said he’s heard, and considers that a positive thing.

“It’s definitely going to be a process. I think there’s going to be some learning on all of our parts, how much can people do, how much can they not do, how does it work contacting teachers,” he said. “We are actually trying working on a couple things there, we are trying to implement a new phone answering system, we got some folks working on that right now. It’s definitely a learning process.”

Carlson said along with the other schools among the 400 in Montana, Friday Havre Public Schools submitted a remote learning plan draft proposed for the school year till April 10.

The plan must be approved by the state Office of Public Instruction before it is officially takes effect.

The plan includes providing a free and appropriate education for students with disabilities, the draft plan says. The district is conducting meetings via electronic means and or meeting in person, but complying with Center for Diseases Control and Prevention guidelines, state guidelines and local health guidelines.

“We’ll gradually kind of make changes and adapt as we go, but for the most we are trying to make our access to the building as limited as possible,” Carlson said. “Not everybody is working in the buildings. In fact, we are doing as much as we can to try to do, telework would be our priority in every situation and it’s just that some jobs really don’t lend themselves to telework, but we’re getting creative with how (to do that) and we’re going to try to continue to do that just to try to limit the numbers of people and the contacts.”

For additional information or any updates, he said, he encourages people to look at the school district’s website https://www.blueponyk12.com .

Right now, classroom education is canceled through Friday, April 10, and tentatively scheduled to resume after that, and all K-12 events and activities have been canceled till Monday, April 13.

That depends on whether the governor extends his directive on keeping schools closed to classroom learning.

Carlson said he hopes the school buildings will open soon.

“I think a more normal operation, and I hope we start to transition that way, is where it’s more school-classroom-teacher-level because ultimately that’s really where the relationships are, that’s where the learning takes place,” Carlson said, “My hope and my intent is that it’s more to teacher and student level. … That’s close to what we were when our doors were open and I hope we can do as well as we can.”

He said he has seen a lot of conversations about concerns for mental health during this time and will be putting up resources on the school’s website.