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People call for in-class learning at Havre schools

During a meeting set to work on selecting a new board member, the Havre Public Schools Board of Trustees heard an earful about opening the Havre Schools to full classes four or five days a week.

The comments at Tuesday's special board meeting came the same day that Montana Federation of Public Employees said a Great Falls educator had died from COVID-19.

"Everyone in MFPE mourns this loss with great pain and extend our deepest condolences to the family," MFPE President Amanda Curtis said in a statement released Tuesday. "MFPE will continue to advocate at the state level for increased safety measures for school staff and students. "

Several community members spoke at the meeting advocating the district open to more in-class learning.

Scott Chagnon said the school board is not making decisions that benefit the students. The students need the option to return to school as the other A schools in Montana have done, he said. Parents that want their students back in school need to show up to the next board meeting he said. 

Newspaper articles and school district posts have said multiple Class A schools in Montana have gone through periods of closure and remote learning due to COVID-19, with some still in remote learning and other schools considering new closures and hybrid or remote learning models.

Others talked about the impact on the students.

"I am a mother, former teacher and concerned member of this community," Janet Williams Ingram said.

Ingram spoke about depression in school age children, the gap from the learning platform this year going into next year and gave testimony from other parents and their struggles with depression and anxiety. Ingram included testimony from other parents who have suicidal children as well. She asked the school board to return students to school four to five days a week. 

Jake Ingram presented a petition signed by 364 people in the community. The petition states students at Havre Public schools are suffering with only two days a week in-person learning. Parents are also struggling balancing their jobs and trying to teach students after work hours the petition said. 

Parents are reporting anxiety, depression, loneliness and a sense of being overwhelmed in students ranging from elementary to high school, Ingram read. 

Miles City, Columbia Falls, Polson, Ronan, Hamilton, Butte Central, East Helena, Corvallis, Laurel, Sidney and Frenchtown, all Class A schools like Havre Public Schools, are back to school at least four days a week, Ingram said. 

Several of those schools have gone through or are in systems including scheduling modifications and temporary shut downs and remote learning, with more considering action as more COVID-19 cases are confirmed and staff shortages increase.

The petition demanded that HPS move forward towards more days of in person learning. It ended with "Put the students first. It's your obligation." 

Miranda Hencz spoke to the board about getting students back to in-person learning four or five days a week. She listed statistics of suicide from 2018 and the statistics of survivability of coronavirus, saying that the board is focused on the wrong issues. 

"Virtual learning is provided for parents and students that are fearful of attending school in person. If you don't feel safe at school, then by all means stay home. You cannot have it both ways. Where is the options for parents and students that want to get back to at least four days a week?" she said. "We do not wish to live in fear. We do not wish to miss any more school days."

The poor education and mental issues will follow the students for the rest of their lives, she said. She asked the board to add going back to a four-day school week to the next board meeting.

Brittany Long wrote in on Zoom requesting that the board look into getting the students back into school for four days vs the current two day a week schedule. The school schedule should be on every board meeting agenda, she said.

The schedule does not provide a structured enough schedule that the students need, she said.

The comments all were made during the public comment portion of the meeting and the board did not respond.

Amanda Curtis said in the MFPE release that, with current conditions, having in-person classes is too dangerous.

"However, the simple fact remains that we cannot continue to have schools operating in-person when restaurants, bars, and school activities continue to exacerbate community spread," she said in the statement. "Montanans must wear masks in all public areas, and businesses must be held accountable for noncompliance. Additionally, all school districts, boards, and administrators must continue to do everything in their power to enforce public health guidelines, including mask-wearing, social distancing, and quarantining. All Montanans can help protect their neighbors who serve on the frontlines by doing the same thing. 

"MFPE remains committed to fighting for the safety our members deserve," the statement concludes.

The meeting was held to identify finalists for interview to fill the vacant trustee position previously held by Brian Williams. The three final interviewees are Scott Adams, Jim Donovan and Lorraine Larson.

The compilation and results from the boards screening process for the open board of trustee's seat are available upon request, the district said.

A board meeting to interview the candidates for the vacant trustee position is planned for Dec. 7 or Dec. 10 in the evening.

The next scheduled board meeting is Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Havre Middle School auditorium. 

 

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