A number of local schools have opted to stick with distance learning despite the opportunity to reopen the classrooms.
A number of local schools have opted to stick with distance learning despite the opportunity to reopen the classrooms.
The state of Montana has begun the process of reopening the economy, but not everyone is ready to jump on board.
Governor Steve Bullock unveiled a plan that provides local governments and entities a level of autonomy for making their own decisions when to begin the path to bringing back a semblance of normal.
The Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation and the Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation have each made announcements restrictions made during the month of March will remain in place, the Havre Daily News reported.
Those restrictions were made in response to COVID-19 in March. The nation responded to the threat with stay-at-home orders placed in an effort to flatten the curve. Among the institutions most impacted throughout the nation were schools, which had to abandon the classroom and begin learning in an online platform.
A number of schools, the report said, have chosen to remain closed for the semester to ensure safety through distance learning. The Box Elder Schools have opened to remain closed the remainder of the year. Superintendent Jeremy MacDonald told the paper the district will continue to deliver meals. Rocky Boy Schools will make a decision during a school board meeting to its immediate future.
In a statement, Superintendent Voyd St. Pierre wrote, “The reasons ‘why’ [to keep the classrooms close] far outweigh the reasons ‘why not,’” the Daily News reported.
Havre will have a special board meeting to make a decision on reopening its classrooms.
Montana State University-Northern told the outlet it would stick with its current procedure. The state university system converted to online classes following the governor’s state of emergency.
In a letter, Montana State Chancellor Greg Kegel said the university would maintain its current practices through the semester. Northern is working on plans to reopen its campus for the summer and fall semesters.
On March 15, all state public schools were ordered to close with many parochial schools also opting to close. Those schools can now reopen on May 7. The state has begun reopening with places of worship with social distancing in place followed by retail businesses.
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