Reopening planned for Libby schools temporarily closed for pandemic

Libby Middle High School is set to reopen for in-person learning on Oct. 26 after a weeklong remote learning stint. The city’s elementary school remains scheduled to reopen classrooms on Oct. 28.

Superintendent Ron Goodman closed both schools last week after health department officials confirmed new coronavirus cases within the district. Contact tracing showed that the virus was spreading between school staff at the elementary school on Oct. 13, which led to its closure the following day.

As of Oct. 16, no middle high school staff members had tested positive for the virus but health officials confirmed that an unspecified number of students at both schools had contracted the virus.

Goodman said he intended to make an all-call to Libby parents on Oct. 22 to inform them of the district’s plans. The call would also explain new procedures the school district will undertake to mitigate spread of the virus. A committee composed of school staff, health officials and teachers was scheduled to meet the same day to discuss the reopening plans, according to Goodman.

While he did not foresee any immediate obstacles to reopening schools, Goodman said that the district’s in-person learning plans could change in an instant.

“All we know, we are one phone call away from not [reopening],” he said.