Havre schools tentatively set for increased in-class learning in January

Editor’s note: This adds the record of the vote on the school reopening proposal.

At the Havre School District Board meeting Tuesday Interim-Superintendent Craig Mueller presented his recommendation for re-opening to the board, with plans to go to Phase 3 re-opening in January. 

Mueller said that depends on if the community cases per day is fewer than 50 per 100,000, based on the matrix developed and updated by the Hill County Health Department, prior to January 8; the community positivity rate is at or below 10 percent on Jan. 8; the district is able to deliver instruction face-to-face with certified staff at each building, and parents and students understand that face coverings must be worn at all times when social or physical distancing of six feet cannot be maintained.

If those factors are true, Mueller said, “my recommendation is to return (kindergarten through fifth grade) learners to school in Schedule 3A on Monday, January 11. (Grade six through 12) learners will return to school on Monday, January 25 for the start of second semester. If the positivity rate and the community matrix cases is not met, (Havre Public Schools) will remain in Phase 2, Schedule 2B, until the Board of Trustees can reassess at the Jan. 12th or Feb. 9th meeting.”

Mueller said parents who want to opt students out from in-class learning will be able to do so. The opt-out form will need to be filled out by Friday, Jan. 15 for third trimester for grades 6-12. 

Grade K-5 students will need to contact building principals as soon as possible to opt out if schools move to in-person learning Jan. 11. 

Board Member Ed Hill asked why the students could not return to school as early as next week. 

“We are asking (teachers) already to do a ton of work and to change lesson plans and do all those kinds of things when they’ve already been preparing for the rest of this quarter and the ending of the semester,” Havre High School Principal Ed Norman said. “We would put a lot of undo pressure on the teachers to make that decision.”

Hill also asked the question directly to Havre Middle School Principal Dustin Kraske.

“Mr. Kraske … do you think it would be as hard for the middle schoolers and the staff to transition into starting next week compared to the 11th?” he asked.

“I don’t know how that would happen. Do I think next week is unrealistic? I think it is incredibly unrealistic,” Kraske said. “Do I think kids should be back, that’s going to be your next question, sure, until we lose seven teachers, which is what kids see during the course of a day. That would make some challenges for our school.

“We haven’t even thought about lunch, Trustee Hill, and how that is going to look,” Kraske added. “Hallway passing times now are relatively easy to monitor. We have some housekeeping issues we have to look at to make it safe for everybody.”

Local resident Scott Chagnon urged the board to go back to in-person learning immediately.

“Havre is not unique in this issue of getting kids back to school for in-person learning,” he said. “My question is, how are a lot of these schools back to four or five days a week and we can’t seem to get there. They are not waiting for a perfect time until things get better. It’s up to you board members to turn this travesty around. I am asking for at least one of you to please make a motion today for entering into phase three, four days a week.” 

Four comments were made through Zoom chat. Two were against the motion as presented. Two were for the motion as presented.

Several administrators at the meeting also discussed what they said were more challenges the district will face on reopening the schools to a 4-day in-person learning schedule. 

The plan could require dedicating more teachers to the virtual students because of projected opt-out students, and a transportation plan has not been finalized as of yet for a four day in-person school week.

Mueller said he sent out a survey to middle school and high school students about returning to in-person learning.

  In the responses, 357 students want to attend school in person, 143 are unsure and 114 would opt out. 

The students were also asked if they felt safe returning with larger classes, and 379 students said yes and 235 said no.

The final question asked if the students were comfortable wearing face coverings when social distancing was not available, and 386 Students said yes and 228 said no.

The board passed the recommendation in a 4-3 vote.

Chair Aileen Couch and trustees Cindy Erickson, Theresa Miller and Curtis Smeby voted in favor and Vice Chair Harvey Capellen and trustees Ed Hill and Timothy Scheele voted against.

The board also reviewed the district’s return-to-play guidelines. 

For fall season, 34 students received the academic all-state recognition, meaning the student athletes lettered in a varsity sport and had at least a 3.5 GPA. 

The major changes for return to play guidelines included the language from the Return to Play committee. All sport documents have been updated from what the MHSA has put out and what the district has seen from the fall season. 

The ticketing process has been updated as well. Instead of printing out tickets each week permanent tickets have been issued for the season.

Most of the swim meets will be virtual meets to meet COVID-19 safety standards. 

The board approved the changes in a unanimous vote.

The motion for the high school to add a girl’s wrestling team after a two-year trial period was passed in a unanimous vote.

An essential workers stipend motion was passed unanimously. 

That gives employees who are scheduled to work more than 20 hours a week a $500 stipend and $250 for employees that work fewer than 20 hours a week. 

This stipend is covered by the COVID-19 relief fund. Employees must be employed in the district for a 2020-2021 position since Sept. 8 and still have been employed Tuesday. 

The board allocated $15,000 monthly from COVID-19 relief funds to Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line to help fund nine extra hours of care per day.

Policies 3210, 3225, 3225P, 3225F, 3226, 3310, 5010, 5012, 5012P, 5012F and 5015 were all passed unanimously on second reading. The new policies updated the current policies on sexual harassment rules, investigations and grievances. 

Policy 1620P, Board Performance Assessment and Meeting Evaluation Tool, was reviewed and passed unanimously.

The board unanimously passed the FY22 Dues Revenue Estimate.

A special board meeting is set for Thursday at 6:30 in the middle school auditorium to interview candidates for the open trustee seat. 

The next board meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 12, at Havre Middle School.