Schools discuss education plans and Gianforte vaccination schedule change

Local schools are back in session as of Monday after the winter holiday break. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused all schools to make changes this year and the rise of cases during the September surge caused many to teach students remotely. Most of the schools in the area that went remote were back to some form of in-person learning before the holidays. 

But the return to school came with a major change in plans regarding COVID-19.

The state was in the process of moving to Phase 1B of the vaccine distribution as Phase 1A, vaccinating front-line health care workers, is wrapped up.

Wednesday, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced changes to the state's vaccine distribution program. The changes included making the vaccine available to Montanans 70 and older – previously 75 – and adding people older than 16 with underlying health conditions in phase 1B.

The changes also involved bumping front-line essential workers, including teachers, first responders, grocery store employees and those in congregate care and correctional facilities, to a later phase if they do not have underlying health conditions. 

Some local school superintendents and teachers share disappointment in the news. 

"It's very unfortunate that Gov. Gianforte chose to move teachers and other essential workers lower on the priority list for vaccination," Superintendent of North Star Schools Bart Hawkins said. "Frankly, it shows an extreme disrespect to all the people that have risked their own well-being to help everyone get through this pandemic.  We have worked hard to keep kids in school and learning, and most of our state has returned to some form of in-person education despite the dangers to our staff."

North Star Schools announced Wednesday a positive COVID-19 case and that North Star Elementary School in Gildford went to full remote learning today due to quarantine of students and staff. The school district will be contact tracing, cleaning and planning for staffing during this time and plans to resume in-person learning Monday. The closure only affects the elementary school.

North Star runs on a four-day school week with no classes Friday.

Other local superintendents had similar comments about Gianforte's announcement.

"We have prioritized getting our schools open, and I think part of that is allowing essential workers, which would be our school staff, access to the vaccine. Hopefully, we can keep our doors open and keep our staff and students safe," Box Elder Schools Superintendent Jeremy MacDonald said. "Hopefully, we can get our educators access to the vaccine sooner rather than later."

"I'm disappointed that education staff has been moved down the list. I would have liked to see all the staff members that wish to receive the vaccine be able to do so," said Turner Public Schools Superintendent Tony Warren. "At this point in time, we will just wait until our name is called."

"I am honestly wishing we were still able to be in the running for phase 1B.  I think keeping the staff healthy would help keep the schools open and running," said Havre first grade teacher DaNelle Bakke. "My thoughts are mixed though, as I am happy to see the most at risk (70 and older) getting the shots first if it is a supply and demand issue."

Havre Interim Superintendent Craig Mueller had not responded to a request for comment by printing deadline this morning.

Gianforte Press Secretary Brooke Stroyke referred to the DPHHS HAN information sheet that says Montana updated vaccine recommendations due to the review of COVID-19 activity, hospitalizations and deaths and vaccination resources.

"Gov. Gianforte closely reviewed the data and is committed to protecting the most-vulnerable among us," Stoyke said. "Montanans 70 and older and Montanans between 16 and 69 with severe underlying health conditions are at high risk with COVID-19, which is why he put them at the front of the line for vaccines. Educators who are 70 and older or who have severe health conditions will now have an accelerated path to receiving the vaccine. All educators will be in line for the vaccine after the most vulnerable."

Update on learning

Before the break, Havre Publics Schools has been using a hybrid learning model with both distance and in-person learning. There have been discussions about a re-opening plan over the past two months at school board meetings which would include students going back to four day in-person learning. 

Interim-Superintendent Craig Muller said Monday the community matrix is at 48.53 cases per 100,000 and the positivity rate is 13.37, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. 

"We are using the seven-day positivity rate, which is different from the CMS source, which is a two-week period. Hopefully, the positivity rate goes back below 10 percent in accordance with our reopening plan," he said.  

The 10 percent rate, along with a community matrix of 50 cases per 100,000 per day, are among the requirements to go to four-day a week in-class learning.

Hill County had a surge of new cases listed Wednesday, after several weeks of fewer than 20 and several days with fewer than 10 a day. Wednesday's report was of 27 new cases.

Havre Public School's Board of Trustees will hear Tuesday at the scheduled board meeting Mueller's reopening recommendation based on the several conditions on increasing in-class learning.

St. Jude Thaddeus School has been in-person learning while social distancing, wearing masks, and sanitizing since the start of the school year.

Heading into this week the school has seen no major changes said Principal Mike Haugen. 

"We will continue to be vigilant with our protocols as we enter our toughest months of the year," he added.

North Star Schools have been in-person learning since the beginning of the school year while taking COVID-19 precautions. Distanced learning has been offered to families that needed it and remote learning used when needed, such as today's requirement at the elementary school.

Superintendent Hawkins said Monday there have been no real changes from the fall and the school is continuing with all COVID-19 precautions in place.

Turner Public Schools have been in-person learning since the beginning of the school year.

They have had students quarantined and some COVID-19 cases associated with the district. 

Superintendent Warren said the schools have returned to in-person learning Monday. He said their school district only has one student learning remotely and have zero COVID-19 cases associated with the district. 

Box Elder Public Schools started the school year with remote learning. The school board voted in December to move to a hybrid, in-person learning starting Jan. 19.

Right now, select students that have an Individual Education Plan, special education students and students that have been recommended by school administrators and teachers are in-person learning, said Superintendent MacDonald. 

Rocky Boy Schools has been on remote learning all year. The school had not responded to requests for comments on upcoming education plans by printing deadline this morning.

Chinook, CJI and Big Sandy schools have been generally running in-class all year, but none had not responded to a request for comments on upcoming plans for education by printing deadline this morning.

Harlem started with a hybrid model, then went remote as COVID-19 surges occurred then went back to hybrid model. Requests for comment were not responded to by printing deadline today.