Reopening plan, staffing and SLE equipment dominate discussion

SEELEY LAKE – At the Seeley Lake School Board meeting July 20, new superintendent Josh Gibbs presented options for returning to school, suggested staff changes following the resignation of Jama Mauldin and Rachel Bemis, discussed transitional kindergarten and addressed SLE equipment and check out options.

Reopening Plan

Gibbs presented a phased reopening plan that he’s developed incorporating input from regional superintendents, the governor’s office, the Montana School Board Association and local health officials.

“It is always adjusting and it will continue to change as we move forward,” said Gibbs who posted on the SLE Facebook page that he will have a plan out Friday for review.

Phase 0 includes complete school closure and distance learning for all students. This would be implemented if closure was mandated at the state or county level or closure was required due to active cases in the school.

Gibbs presented that the morning would be structured online instruction from the teacher and the afternoon would be more flexible with time for the students to check in and ask questions. There would be a dress code for students and attendance would be taken.

Gibbs hopes more structure would help with accountability. While he said the younger grades would look a little different, they would be required to live stream, face-to-face instruction online. The school would ensure every student had the technology and tools to learn.

Phase 1 would be a split or blended model, with one group of students attending in-person Monday and Tuesday with the other group attending Thursday and Friday. Wednesday would be a day to disinfect the school and bring in students who need additional time in the classroom so they can continue to make academic gains.

In Phase 2, everyone attend in-person, all together, all week with health and safety measures in place. In the proposal he presented to the board, Gibbs said students would be limited to interacting with their own class and lunches, recess and physical education classes would look different. Parents would have a checklist so they know when to keep their child home. Temperature checks would be done for all students at the beginning of the day.

Face coverings would be required for those 12 years and older per Missoula City-County Health Department. For the grades with 11- and 12-year-olds, the 11-year-olds would be required to wear masks. Gibbs said that the statewide face covering directive for five and older has not been required for schools, yet. SLE will adjust as needed to the state directives. Mask breaks would be structured in during the day.

Gibbs said directives regarding exemptions for students with medical conditions that are affected by wearing face coverings have not come out yet.

“My belief is that we do need to follow our ordinance as best as possible. There are going to be cases where students may not be able to wear it all day,” said Gibbs. “We will make adjustments to that.”

Gibbs added, “I think this will be our biggest area of controversy as a school and community. We will definitely work with that.”

While Gibbs hopes Phase 2 will be the scenario this fall, that is dependent on the state and local requirements and an assessment of the active case count in Missoula County closer to opening.

Gibbs said whether parents have the option to choose a completely remote option is still a question. He sent out a survey to receive parent input which is available on the SLE Facebook page. He asks parents complete the survey

Gibbs is working with Seeley-Swan High School Principal Kellen Palmer and Conley Transportation to address transportation. SSHS has proposed starting at 9 a.m. This may adjust SLE’s start time depending on bus routes and screening students before entering the building.

Gibbs said he is developing a task force. He asked that a board member or two serve on that along with members of the community. He has received feedback from the staff and invites parents and community members to complete a survey regarding reopening by Sunday, Aug. 2. A link to the survey is available on the school’s Facebook page.

“I think it is important to get a lot of other people involved since I think my opinions and ideas are not always the best ones,” said Gibbs.

The proposed reopening plan will be shared on the Seeley Lake Elementary School Facebook page Friday, July 31.

Staffing

Gibbs said teachers will not be looping with their class, a change implemented by past superintendent Daniel Schrock last June.

“With the COVID, I think it is very important that we have teachers that are comfortable and good at their grade level so we can really start to focus on the standards that need to be met. They are comfortable with that so if we get forced to online they can easily transition to that,” said Gibbs. “If we weren’t planning to come back in person, I think the looping would have, 100% been the right choice.”

The preschool teacher Jama Mauldin and first grade teacher Rachel Bemis submitted their letter of resignation for the 2020-2021 school year.

In her letter, Mauldin wrote that she will not be pursuing her Early Childhood Certification, a requirement the board established for her employment as the preschool teacher. While she wrote in the letter that she understands she is no longer eligible for the position, she has discussed alternatives for employment with Gibbs.

Bemis wrote in her resignation letter that she accepted another teaching position and will not be returning to SLE writing, “this is what is best for me personally and professionally.”

Despite the resignations, Gibbs reported to the board that they have the teaching positions filled. Zoe Mohesky, who was going to be working in special education, will probably be shifted to fill the first grade position. Another staff member is certified in Early Childhood and will fill the transitional kindergarten position half time and work as the librarian part time for the time being. Down that road it would be advertised publicly to fill it permanently.

Gibbs said he advertised for a special education position.

“With where our special education program is at right now, it would be a great opportunity to try and get somebody in there, that wants to be in there and they are familiar with all the laws,” said Gibbs.

Transitional Kindergarten

Gibbs explained the “preschool program” has been renamed transitional kindergarten. This year it will only be offered to four-year-olds. If the school remains in Phase 2, they will go to school five days a week, in the morning.

The three-year-old class, that met Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in 2019-2020, will not be offered this year. Gibbs hopes that SLE will be able to fund a three-year-old program in the future.

SLE equipment checkout

In response to a letter addressed to board Chair Kyle Marx from members of the community expressing their concern regarding the outdoor program discussion as reported by the Pathfinder from their June board meeting, Gibbs said there has not been a discussion of cutting the ski or outdoor program. The discussion at the June meeting was more around accountability for the recreation equipment and check-out procedures.

Gibbs said most of the equipment was purchased through the 21st Century grant, other grants or the SLE Outside store. Outdoor Program Coordinator Bridget Laird has inventoried the equipment and Gibbs feels this should be done before each winter and summer season to increase accountability. Gibbs implemented an equipment check out system including a release form that must be approved by himself, office staff or Laird.

While Gibbs said he didn’t want to speak for local businesses, he felt their rental business is focused on tourists. Gibbs wants to have the equipment available to the community, not just students and families of SLE.

“My vision and my plan with [SLE equipment checkout] is for locals. How you confirm that, that is a work in progress right now,” said Gibbs who added that a driver’s license number will be required on the release form.

Laird added that equipment is only available when not being used by the outdoor program.

In other business:

• The board unanimously approved changing the date of the board meeting to the third Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m.

• The board unanimously approved the extra duty contracts with the Swan Valley Elementary School.

• The board unanimously approved the FY19 Audit Report

The next meeting will be Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m. with budget adoption on the agenda.