Under Governor Steve Bullock’s Directive for a Phased Reopening of Montana, beginning May 7, all schools have the option to return to in-classroom teaching delivery. Despite that option, Chinook School District’s Superintendent, Darin Hannum reports that almost all of the Hi-Line school superintendents will recommend to keep online instruction because of prohibitive aspects of the governor’s Directive.

Harlem School District held a special school board meeting at noon on Monday, April 27, to discuss their options: Whether schools would reopen on May 7 or whether they would continue providing distance learning or a mixed-delivery model per Montana Code Annotated (MCA) 20-7-118.

This new gubernatorial directive rescinds the school closure directive and essentially returns education back to local control by districts. Nothing in the Directive, however, prevents a local school board from declaring a local emergency as provided in § 20-9-806, MCA. Local boards and their districts that make such a declaration will continue to receive full funding support from the state, not only to fund transportation but to provide learning.

On April 24, Lori Owens, Business Manager and Clerk for Harlem School District, told reporters: “A majority of the community is in favor of remaining closed, but the final decision is for the school board to make.”

Chinook Schools held a similar board meeting on Tuesday night, April 28. However, as of Friday morning, April 24, over 70% of Chinook staff surveyed said they would rather keep online instruction for the remainder of this school year, and 76% of parents expressed a reluctance to send their children back to school if it were to reopen.

Superintendent of Turner School District, Tony Warren said, “I strongly suspect our district will continue our remote learning plan for the remainder of this school year. I should have better information regarding both school closure and graduation ceremony plans by early to the middle of next week.”

In making their decisions, school board members referred to the State’s requirements that, if reopened, school districts would be required to consider:

• Implementing an alternative educational delivery model that includes a mix of in-person and remote learning;

• Providing focused individual education, especially for at-risk students;

• Making accommodations for teachers, staff, and students who fall into the at-risk category because of their age or other health risks or who have family members who are high risk;

• Extending accommodations to students and staff who are required to quarantine due to exposure or potential exposure;

• Reconnecting with and meeting the educational needs of students who fall behind in a remote learning environment;

• The importance of maintaining the connection between students, teachers, and parents;

• The important role that schools play in the health of students, families, and communities;

• Graduation environments that can meet the social distancing requirements.

Besides these considerations, Blaine County school administrators cited their concerns that most schools are not designed to maintain social distance and that teachers can’t be expected to provide both face-to-face and online instruction.

The May 6 issue of the Blaine County Journal—News—Opinion will carry an update on this story as it unfolds.