Masks optional in Libby schools

Face coverings will be optional for Libby Public School students when they return to classrooms on Aug. 25.

The district’s updated pandemic guidelines, reviewed by school board members on Aug. 9, marks a continuation of the board’s decision to lift mask requirements in May.

In an Aug. 6 joint letter, Gov. Greg Gianfrote and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Elise Arntzen urged district superintendents and school boards to consider both input from parents and data from the state Department of Public Health and Human Services when making decisions about reopening classrooms, particularly those related to masking.

“We have heard from parents throughout the state who are concerned about the impact of universal masking on their kids’ academic, emotional and social development,” the letter reads.

Gianforte and Arntzen also noted that Montanans aged 16 years and older have had access to vaccines since the beginning of April.

Similar to last academic year, Libby schools will operate under a set of phased guidelines based on the severity of the coronavirus pandemic locally.

In phase three, the least restrictive of the four phases, schools would operate on typical schedules.

Buses would not have assigned seating, the district’s food service would not be modified to accommodate social distancing and students would be allowed to wear face coverings. All school facilities would be open for public use.

Administrators would move the district into phase three if local cases of the coronavirus remained “moderate to low.”

In phase two, the phase the district would fall under if the community experiences a higher number of cases but not a significant number from unknown sources, school administrators would impose light requirements.

Buses could have assigned seating, locker use would be restricted, food service would be modified to allow for social distancing and face coverings would be recommended.

School facilities could be closed to public use and students with valid health concerns could request a remote learning curriculum.

Superintendent Ron Goodman said the district wanted to keep the number of students on remote learning schedules to a minimum.

Managing both in-person and remote curriculums was a significant burden for teachers last academic year. The district will be relying on Apex Learning, an online learning program Libby Middle High School tested during the second semester of last school year, to help provide students with remote classes.

Barb Mee, a Libby High School math teacher, raised concerns at the Aug. 9 meeting that students, especially younger children, could contract and spread the virus without showing any symptoms.

“The little ones aren’t quite as easy to diagnose,” she said. “My big fear going into this year is that we’re going to have lots of kids running around sick that don’t know they are.”

Goodman said school officials would keep a close eye on case counts and be ready to change course if needed.

“I think it’s important that we remain pliable as far as what we’re doing and what we’re seeing,” he said.

“If we see a massive outbreak, we’ll have to change what we do.”

In phase one, school officials would tighten restrictions on student mixing and limit visitors. Administrators would highly recommend face coverings and would assign seating on buses. All school facilities would be closed to public use and students with valid health concerns could switch to remote learning schedules.

The district would enter phase one if the coronavirus began spreading within school buildings. Public health officials likely wouldn’t have a clear handle on where cases were originating in this phase.

Goodman noted that being able to trace where infections came from could be just as important as the number of cases the community was experiencing.

If the community saw a spike in cases, the outbreak would be much less of a concern to administrators if public health officials were able to tie it to an event outside of the district.

In phase zero, the most restrictive of the four phases, administrators would close school buildings and switch students to online learning curriculums. All school facilities would be closed to the public and extracurriculars would be suspended.

Superintendent Ron Goodman said school officials would resort to phase zero if they saw spread of the virus within school buildings or if the district faced a severe staffing shortage due to quarantines.

Libby Middle High School and Libby Elementary School switched to remote learning twice last year, once in November and October, for two-week stretches at a time.

In all phases, school officials will promote handwashing and offer testing to students with parental permission.

The district would make accommodations for any students or staff placed on quarantine due to exposure to the virus and will have health plans available for vulnerable staff and students. Administrators would send home any students that are sick.