Havre schools busy planning for next year

I hope that this communication finds you enjoying the summer! We are busy preparing for the return to school in August. It is exciting to see so many students involved in our Summer Learning Program under the direction of many of our highly-qualified teachers and paraprofessionals in the district. Additionally, our summer driver’s education program and Extended School Year programs are providing essential instruction and preparing students for the 2021-2022 school year.

As a reminder, our summer meal program is available at Lincoln-McKinley and Highland Park. We are offering free meals for all children ages 18 and under. Our school food service staff would love to see you! High school students are providing structured play and activities from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the same locations. See the school website for more details.

The Havre Board of Trustees will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 22, at Havre Middle School. The agenda for this meeting will be available on the school district website Thursday, June 17.

I will be asking the board to continue with the “State of Emergency” declaration which is outlined as follows:

Recommended Motion:

“I recommend that the Board of Trustees declare an unforeseen emergency within the meaning of that term as set forth in Title 20, Chapter 9, Part 8, to become immediately effective and to continue through June 30, 2022, or until terminated by a vote of the Board of Trustees. The declaration is necessary due to community and school health concerns related to COVID-19. The Board of Trustees authorizes the administrator to take necessary steps to execute this declaration and inform the public and government agencies of this declaration.”

This recommendation is necessary for the district to continue providing flexibilities to those who have been impacted and may continue to be impacted by COVID-19. It allows the district to continue to operate within the guidelines set forth in Montana Code and within the parameters of Montana law.

Some changes to school board policies will be necessary to align with our Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan. I will be making a recommendation to revise Policy 1905 to read that face coverings will be optional as personal protective equipment in all places making reference to face coverings. This recommendation will include to remove references to temperature screenings.

Following the presentation of the Havre Public Schools Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan, there will be time for public comment in support of or against the motion that is made. The Return to School Plan will be posted on the district website on June 23, 2021.

Items of particular interest within the Plan include:

• Reference to Policy 1905: The policy establishes regulations making optional face coverings as personal protective equipment.

• Reference to Policy 1905: The policy establishes regulations regarding physical distancing by requiring students, staff, volunteers, and visitors maintain a three-foot distance between themselves and their colleagues and peers throughout the school day inside any school building, on school provided transportation, and on school property before and after school. Staff members will arrange classrooms and restructure courses, transportation services, and food service to meet this standard. (This was approved by the board June 8, 2021)

• Reference to Policy 1906: The Board of Trustees authorizes offsite and online instruction of students in a manner that satisfies the aggregate number of instructional hours outlined in the School District’s adopted or revised calendar for a school year affected by a public health emergency. (This was approved by the board July 28, 2020)

There will be a Zoom link available for this meeting, but the Chat option for public comment will not be available. If you would like to comment on the plan, it will be necessary to attend the meeting in person. Again, we encourage the community to utilize the Zoom link to view and listen to the board meeting, but public comment through Zoom will not be accepted. Board members may still participate via Zoom if necessary.

If you have questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us, at [email protected] or directly to me at [email protected]

Go Blue Ponies!

Craig Mueller

Superintendent

Havre Public Schools