Whitefish School District adopts hybrid teaching model, requires wearing masks to reopen schools

The Whitefish School District has finalized plans to carefully reopen its school buildings with a hybrid in-person and remote-learning format for an extended transition period.

The district had been considering a trial transition phase to ease into the school year for the first two weeks, but has now extended it to last at least the first five weeks of the school year, until Sept. 25 related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Whitefish School Board approved the plan Tuesday.

“We’re looking for a smooth, stable start with the capacity to make adjustments as we go along,” Whitefish Middle School principal Josh Branstetter said. “We’re fortunate right now to have the opportunity to open schools, have the kids back in the buildings.”

The board is hoping that opening Whitefish schools slowly will allow the district to assess their own metrics and make decisions on how to effectively proceed with school while continuing to combat the spread of COVID-19. The district is looking to avoid the potential “pendulum swing” of fully opening, but having to then close schools again throughout the year.

“Decisions will come (after the transition period) of what to do beyond that,” Whitefish High School principal Kerry Drown added. “Sliding more toward a higher percentage of in-person (learning) would be our ultimate goal if we’re prepared to do that at that point.”

The hybrid model for all three schools will cut down the population of students on campus at one time. Each school is divided into two groups, based on A to K and L to Z for last names. For the first two full weeks of school the A to K group will attend school in-person on Tuesday and Wednesday while the second group tunes in remotely, then the groups switch for Thursday and Friday, with Mondays off.

For the next two weeks the first group’s in-person learning days will slide to Monday and Tuesday with the schools using Wednesday as a day for teacher’s professional development, office hours and to assist students who are needing extra help.

Specific details of when each child should attend school physically or virtually are expected to be sent out to parents.

Families also have the choice to have students attend school completely online. During the meeting, the district said each school is willing to be flexible with students and parents when making this decision and encourage families to reach out to administration if they decide to switch to online-only or, vice versa, to in-person hybrid learning after school begins.

Interim Superintendent Dave Means said that although the plan means a slower, transitional beginning to the school year, several staff members and parents he has talked with appreciate the extra precautions.

Another key to returning to school on campus is a mandatory mask policy. All staff, students and non-staff are required to wear a mask while in the building, or even outside when social distancing is not possible. The school district will provide a mask for all staff and students, they can also wear any appropriate face covering they have from home.

The school board approved the mandatory masks within school buildings policy for its district on Tuesday. The following day Montana Gov. Steve Bullock issued a statewide directive requiring all K-12 schools, both private and public, to mandate the use of face coverings for students and staff in counties that have four or more active coronavirus cases, which includes Flathead County. The state will use Cares Act funding, $56 million has been allocated to schools, to help schools pay for masks and other cleaning equipment.

The Whitefish School District says those that have medical or cognitive conditions preventing the use of a mask will most likely need to choose the 100% remote-learning option for their education. There may be exceptions for some students, parents will need to contact administration case-by-case, and the board discussed other potential options such as the use of a face shield instead.

Districtwide there is expected to be an emphasis on educating students and staff on effective mask-wearing and hand washing. The first three-day week of school, Aug. 26 to 28, will serve as orientation for the students and an introduction to the new policies. Seating charts for students in different areas of the schools, such as classrooms, libraries and buses, will be kept updated in case of a potential need to perform contact tracing.

The district decided to not screen students before getting on the bus and will wait to take temperatures of the students as they enter the building. In addition, the use of common areas will be limited and students will not have individual lockers to store their belongings.

If the school district were to have multiple students test positive for COVID-19, then either the school board or the Flathead City-County Health Department would make the decision to close a building or send an entire grade to remote-learning only, depending on the situation.

The district also explained that as the constant flow of new information about COVID-19 comes in, the policies and procedures will be updated and continuously sent to the local health department for approval.

“We want kids back to school and we want them to stay,” Means said at the board meeting. “We’re all working toward that goal, I appreciate everybody’s effort.”

A full comprehensive school reopening and procedural guide is available on the district website, wsd44.org.