Havre, Rocky Boy hearing plans of school re-openings today

Local schools are hearing plans on how to re-open schools today, ranging from keeping the schools completely done with remote learning to fully re-opening the school buildings.

The Havre Public School Board of Trustee was scheduled to hear its three re-opening plans for the upcoming school year this fall today in a meeting at Robins School Administration Building starting at 12:15 p.m.

Rocky Boy Public Schools Board of Trustees also scheduled a meeting today to pick a re-opening plan for the upcoming school year, starting at 1 p.m. in the Rocky Boy High School social studies room.

See more on the Rocky Boy plans in Monday’s edition of the Havre Daily News or online at https://www.havredailynews.com/story/2020/07/27/local/rocky-boy-school-board-to-hear-re-opening-options-tuesday/529973.html .

Watch for updates on the disctricts’ decisions at http://www.havredailynews.com, and in Wednesday’s edition of the Havre Daily News.

Harlem Public Schools last week voted on a hybrid/ blended model.

See the July 21 edition of the Havre Daily News or visit https://www.havredailynews.com/story/2020/07/21/local/harlem-school-board-approves-blended-re-opening/529882.html, for more on the Harlem decision.

All three of Havre’s plans are in accordance with Gov. Steve Bullock’s state requirements and concurred with the Hill County Health Department, Interim Superintendent Craig Mueller said.

Havre’s Plan One is an all remote learning plan.

“This model will occur if the state of Montana is under a complete stay-at-home order and/or school buildings are closed or the Board of Trustees directs the district to deliver instruction in this manner,” the draft plan says.

It says instruction will be delivered virtually or via packets from classroom teachers, and teacher learning plans for students will be posted and/or available for pick up at the school building for each week. 

Student work will be graded, it said, student grades will be updated weekly.

Meals will be “grab-n-go” for pick-up at Lincoln-McKinley and Highland Park, it added.

Under Plan Two, the re-opening is a more blended approach with half of the students present at one time in the school buildings with the other doing remote learning, then each group switching to the other model.

“This will require a blended approach for the planning and delivery of learning opportunities for students,” the plan says. “A blended approach of allowing students access to teachers in a face-to-face setting and remote learning will occur as determined by the school staff and administration.”

Social distancing will be practiced in the common areas, classrooms and hallways, and desks will be separated six feet apart.

The plan says facemasks are required for staff when social distancing cannot occur and face shields may be used as an additional protective measure. 

Temperature checks will also be taken upon entrance of the students, staff, faculty and visitors.

Extracurricular activities and events will be determined by the Montana High School Association.

Plan Three is nearly complete return to the classroom.

“During Phase 3 there will be near full capacity of attendance and operations in a traditional setting, with remote learning for students not onsite,” it says. 

For all individuals, it says, there will be no limit on group size.

It says everyone should observe physical distancing and minimize contact time with others, and limit time spent in crowded environments. 

Physical and structural safety measures will be in place for each plan.

The document also includes a district plan if staff and or students give signs of having cases, symptoms arise or a confirmed cases is identified.