Sanders Co. schools move ahead with reopening

After months of planning and re-planning amid the logistic headwinds presented by the coronavirus situation, Sanders County students will be heading back to class before Labor Day.

Flush with contingency plans, schools from Noxon to Dixon say they are ready to continue the educational process with the goal of protecting students, teachers and staff.

At least one school district, Dixon, plans to bring pre-school through eighth-grade students back to class beginning Thursday, Aug. 20. High school students in the Dixon area generally attend classes in Charlo.

Other area schools, including Thompson Falls, held board meetings early this week to finalize days and times, as well as a host of other issues including transportation.

A Dixon spokesperson, Shawna Olsen, said plans are not fully finalized as of Aug. 12, pending a meeting scheduled for the following day, but at this time the starting day is a go.

“We are still debating full days,” Olsen said. “And we are talking about shorter than usual days for the first two weeks to ease into things.”

The approximately 60 students who attend the Dixon school will be subject to temperature checks each morning and social distancing will play a key role.

“We will be trying to minimize movement and social distancing will definitely be in place,” Olsen said. “Our plan is to keep siblings together and hold as many classes and events outdoors as the weather will allow.”

Noxon school Principal Rhonda Horner said classes will begin Wednesday Aug. 26 with “normal” school hours in play for the 200 K-12 students involved.

“We are going to attempt to kick off the year in our normal fashion,” Horner said. “Classes will begin at 8:15 a.m. and school will adjourn for the day at 3:35 p.m.”

Horner said students who request out of the in person learning situation can opt for “distance” learning options, including on-line classes.

As with all the other county schools, social distancing will be a key focus, while masks at this time will be available and optional. The district is looking for larger capacity buses to help facilitate social distancing for students who use district transportation.

Horner said local teachers are in agreement with the main plan via a memo of understanding. She described the situation as being very “fluid” with a host of back-up plans and options available if needed.

“We have contingency plans A, B and C if needed,” Horner said. “Once in the building, things will be different than they were.”

Trout Creek Superintendent/Principal Debbie Phillips said the 70 preK-eighth grade students in the Trout Creek District will begin classes on Aug. 26, with a four-day, Monday-Thursday in-person format, while Fridays will be at home days with distance learning.

Trout Creek area high school students attend either Noxon or Thompson Falls depending on where they live.

As is the case with most other districts, those plans are still not confirmed by the school board, but are likely to be the route Trout Creek takes on their Wednesday opening.

“Having the students at home on Fridays will allow us to do extra cleaning and other work to keep them as safe as we can,” she said. “Also, masks will be mandatory for teachers and staff and available for suggested use by students.”

Like her other county school contemporaries, Phillips said the virus has presented some very challenging logistic situations.

“It’s been crazy, but we should be good to go,” Phillips said. “We are going to be doing the best we can.”

Plains schools will open Monday Aug. 24 and will operate on a four-day, Monday through Thursday week that will have slightly longer hours than were in effect last year.

The approximately 250 students in grades K-12 will this year begin class at 8 a.m. and get out at 4 p.m. The added 40 minutes each day will help the district and its students meet minimum hour attendance requirements as set by the state of Montana.

Schools in the county’s largest town, Thompson Falls, will begin classes on the Wednesday Aug. 26. The board met there Monday night to set days and class times for the more than 400 students in Thompson Falls.

The district website states that plans are under discussion to open schools as normal within Covid guidelines.

The county’s only other public school system, Hot Springs, also plan a Wednesday Aug. 26 opening, with hours and days still under discussion for that district’s 180 students. Covid guidelines will be included in any re-opening.

All district officials said teachers are on board with the plans and proposed plans.