elementary students will be divided ….

elementary students will be divided into Day A and Day B groupings at each school. In-person lessons will be supplemented by distance learning as appropriate for each grade level.

Secondary students will be divided into groups for twoday attendance Mondays/ Wednesday or Tuesdays/ Thursdays. Elementary and secondary schedules will include an additional in-person day for students who fall behind or have limited access to technology.

Access to school campuses will be extremely limited under this plan. Grab and go meals will be served and students will be able to eat in a socially distanced environment.

Plan C is a full distance learning plan, with instructors utilizing an array of online educational resources. No students or teachers will be allowed at the elementary campus. This plan will only take effect in response to a directive from the governor ordering schools to close.

During the public comment period, Debra Loendorf addressed the board in person, explaining her preference for the limited attendance and zero attendance options in the district’s reopening plan. She cited health concerns and mounting positive test results around Montana.

Among comments and questions posed via the Southside School Facebook page, Suzanne Shumway asked, “I would like to know if it’s been considered how inconvenient the past preschool and proposed kindergarten schedule is to working parents.”

Sam Hentges echoed Shumway’s remarks, as did others. Shumway told the Northern Plains Independent,

“It’s not even the half days. It’s that they start or end them half an hour later or earlier respectively and it makes it near impossible for parents who work full time and don’t have any help.”

Jeff LowDog posted, “What about the children that have to walk to school. What if they present what looks like a low grade fever, but it’s from walking/running? Do they get their temp rechecked or do they just get sent home?”

In response, Erickson explained that no-touch temperature taking technology will make the process faster, safer and easier to manage for staff and students.

Other School Business

During personnel, resignations, retirements and hires, Erickson recommended Angela Swenson for SPED elementary teacher and Lindsay Nefzger for junior high volleyball coach. The board approved the hires unanimously.

The board approved closing 2020 student accounts and opening class of 2024 student accounts. The 2020-21 Southside School, JH/HS and extracurriculars handbooks were also approved.

Out-of-district student attendance agreements were approved for 2020-21.

The final 2020-21 elementary and high school budgets were approved.

During an Aug. 5 special board meeting, Erickson presented the proposed bus routes for board approval. The only bus route running for the 2020-21 school year will be Route 4 (U.S. Highway 2 - Horseshoe Bar in Oswego). The afternoon route will be the same. Families on bus routes 2 and 5 will be offered individual transportation contracts.

The next regular board meeting is set for Sept. 14. Erickson said special meetings will likely be scheduled soon.