Local schools continue to deal with COVID-19

Local schools faced the COVID-19 challenges this year in different ways.

Reports from the districts show each school has adapted to the changes and decided what was best for their students, teachers and community.

“We have had sporadic cases,” North Star Superintendent Bart Hawkins said.

The school is following state COVID-19 guidelines for social distancing and sanitization. Remote learning is offered for families that need it. 

“It’s going as well as possible considering the circumstances this year. … every day we are able to be here we are happy to do so,” said Superintendent of Turner Public Schools Tony Warren.

  Turner Public Schools offers remote learning option and students can use remote learning partnered with Zoom if they are home sick or quarantined. 

St. Jude Thaddeus School has experienced no cases but have had a few families in quarantine, Principal Mike Haugen said. The school is face-to-face learning with restrictions and smaller class sizes this year. They do not offer virtual learning because their school community is so small at 142 students and only has one teacher per grade. 

Big Sandy Public School district does have quarantined students and several COVID-19 positive cases, Superintendent Kelly Haaland said. The school is taking extra precautions by deep cleaning every night and sanitizing common areas every two hours. Remote learning is available and that if the school needed to go full remote it would be an easy transition.

Right now students are on a regular face-to-face schedule. Haaland said the school would opt for a hybrid schedule before going fully remote.

North Gildford Colony School is in normal operation.

Chinook Public School Superintendent Darin Hannum was not available for comment. The district has reported it does have some cases in the district. The Chinook district offers distance learning option and face to face learning.  The district will be implementing early out on Fridays starting Nov. 13 to assist in the challenges brought up by COVID-19, a post on the districts’ Facebook pages said.

Harlem public schools are using a hybrid model for learning. The district did go fully remote for a little over a week starting Sept. 28 but have resumed a hybrid learning schedule again. Precautions are being taken and the school has set up a food distribution program for its students. No one was available for comment.

Box Elder School district is using a virtual learning model at the moment and holding many virtual events through the school system. The district has also set up a food distribution program for students. No one was available for comment.

The district had been in a hybrid-model in-class education program but returned to distanced learning as cases of COVID-19 in the county increased.

Rocky Boy Public Schools has remained in distanced learning since the start of the school year. A tutoring program has been established for district students who need extra help.

Chester Joplin Inverness schools and Cottonwood school were unavailable for comment and no information was available.