Superintendent gives update on Havre Public Schools

It has been about a week since Havre Public Schools began it's remote learning program and Superintendent Andy Carlson said they've learned a lot.

"We're leaning. We've learned a lot," he said. "... I really do appreciate the efforts of everybody and I mean that. I said, from the beginning there is gonna need to be patience from our end, there's gonna need to be patience on our families and our students out there as well. We've had some real successes and we've had some things that we know we are going to have to work at a little bit."

Some of the challenges were making sure devices are handed out to every student, he said.

He said the district has been serving more than 500 meals a day on average through the Grab and Go service.

He said he hopes the students can get back in the classrooms this year.

"I  think everybody is operating from the standpoint of we hope to have a little bit of school inside the school walls," Carlson said. "Now, does it look exactly like it did when we came back? I don't think anyone is thinking that's the case. I guess we all are holding out on a little bit of hope."

He said he heard a statewide update Thursday for the schools where the topic of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act - CARES - Act will bring in money to the schools during this time.

"We kind of got a sense of how that would look and the flexibility that would potentially be there with those dollars which would help us make sure that we're able to meet our payroll type needs and that we're able to deliver," he said. 

Conversations about graduation ideas are currently happening and what that might look like, he said, adding that the school district wants to be able to provide this event for the seniors and their families.

"Every one of us is missing a favorite thing or something that we all kind of held pretty dearly," Carlson said. "It's sad because my calendar doesn't look any different, but there's so many things on my calendar that aren't happening, I miss them, they were fun and I know that everybody is going through that."

Health is the priority for everybody right now, he said.