Plans to head back to school not yet finalized

No official plan has yet been finalized for getting Ekalaka Public Schools students back in the classroom amid COVID-19. A reopening schools committee met earlier this week to discuss options.

The committee was formed at a special school board meeting on June 24 and consists of Superintendent Katy Wright, four teachers, a member of the public health department, board member Dennis Bishop and four other school employees. Progress from the committee will be shared at the next board meeting and a reopening plan could be unveiled as soon as next week.

Governor Steve Bullock released his plan for reopening schools in Montana at the end of June. The plan outlines how and what schools will be doing to reopen. According to it, a phased reopening plan that will align with the Governor’s Reopening the Big Sky Plan will be used.

The phases as outlined in the plan are as follows:

Phase I lifts the stay at home order to allow for gradual re-opening while minimizing the spread of COVID-19 through strict social distancing and building safety protocols. Schools may re-open for in-person instruction depending upon the circumstances of their community. For those students unable to attend in-person, school districts should continue to provide a manner of remote learning, school meals (where applicable), services for students with disabilities, and any other services customarily provided in a school setting.

As the state moves into Phase II, school districts will open and to continue to adhere to strict social distancing and building safety protocols. Limitations around large social gatherings remain in place.

Phase III eases most restrictions, but still encourages social distancing and limitations on large social gatherings to allow the economy to strategically reopen while continuing to prioritize public health. While this phase will facilitate a return to a “new normal” for schools and communities, it will be equally important to continue to monitor public health indicators and adjust strategies to mitigate community spread.

Ekalaka Public Schools are currently scheduled to begin instruction on Thursday, August 13.