Libby school board approves COVID-19 shutdown plan

The Libby Public School Board unanimously approved on March 25 Superintendent Craig Barringer’s plan to feed and educate students while the district’s facilities remain closed for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools across the state shuttered by order of Gov. Steve Bullock on March 15 as a preventive measure to halt the spread of the virus. Local school officials were directed to use the time to develop longer-term proposals for offsite learning for all students.

Bullock initially directed schools to stay closed through March 27, but he has since extended the closure until April 10.

“This plan is a temporary outline,” Barringer said as he presented the board with the six-page proposal during the special meeting.

“What do we have to do today has changed from what we had to do a week ago. It is very general on what we’re going to do,” he said.

The plans calls for district employees to work onsite — or from home if they are deemed high-risk — creating online courses and using video chats and conference calls to teach remotely. Teachers also are creating hard copy material packets for students without reliable Internet access and putting together textbook guides.

Those students with Internet access but without proper electronic devices will receive the necessary equipment by request under the plan. District staff will use buses to deliver and pick up extended learning packets.

For students with disabilities, district staff is preparing customized services for students on an individual education program (IEP) or 504 Plan, according to the proposal. Meetings will be held with these students either remotely or in person when necessary, although Centers for Disease Control guidelines will be used for any face-to-face discussions.

“We’ll communicate with those families immediately,” Barringer said.

Resources for these students also include alternative learning sites, online learning, video chats, conference calls, hard copies, and textbook guides as well as specialized packets. Expired IEPs and any upcoming assessments will be handled over the phone or in spacious locations to allow for social distancing.

District staff will contact parents of students requiring physical therapy directly to discuss home education and assessments, according to the plan.

Counseling services also will be available to students during the closure. Staff will check in with students and families by phone or email starting with those considered “most high risk.” Resources and mental health information will be made available on the district’s website as well as social media accounts and a newsletter distributed to families.

A crisis response team will be available to respond to emergencies. Referrals to outside mental health services will be offered to families.

They also will continue to help plan for students’ futures, according to the document.

As for meals, the district will again deliver food via bus for some students. District employees shuttled food to regular bus stops for distribution to students during the first week of the closure.

“The best part was the jumping up and down of the kids when the bus went by,” Sam Hannah, a fifth grade teacher who helped hand out food last week, told the school board.

Additionally, parents and guardians can pick up breakfast and lunch combined using a grab-and-go system at the Libby Elementary School, Libby Middle High School and Libby Central School.

Backpack meals for the weekend will be provided on Fridays for students in need. The Libby Food Pantry will assemble those meals, officials said.

School staff is working with county officials to potentially deliver foodstuffs simultaneously to the community’s senior citizen population.

“[County officials] were contacting elderly people, at-risk, that live out of town to see if they’re on our bus routes and if they may load stuff on our buses and we’ll drop that off,” Barringer said. “We’re talking about it. If, for instance, someone can’t get groceries, we’ll put them on the bus and drop them off at a stop.”

At the same time as they arrange for food and educational materials to get delivered to students, district officials are directing custodial staff to clean and disinfect its buildings daily. All school-sponsored events and travel have been cancelled, Barringer said.

After receiving the overview, the school board voted overwhelmingly to adopt the plan and send it to Helena. By submitting the plan, district officials ensure they will continue to receive state funding.

Board member Alida Leigh made the motion and Lori Benson seconded it. Vice Chair George Woodruff and member Bgee Zimmerman were not in attendance.

Barringer praised the district’s staff for adjusting to the pandemic. Thankfully, he said, teachers are adroit at making quick adjustments.

“Teachers are used to working in imperfect environments,” Barringer said. “You have the perfect plan and it never goes off that way. They’re used to making shifts.”