MISSOULA — Missoula County Public Schools will remain closed until March 27 after Gov. Steve Bullock directed Montana’s public K-12 schools to close starting on Monday.
MCPS administrators say that effective immediately, all sports practices and driver’s education programs are suspended along with all Life Long Learning Center programs and classes.
This includes any activities or practices that were planned over Spring Break. All of these activities -- as well as other school-related activities -- will be suspended at least through March 27.
“We understand that school closure can be a hardship for our students and families. We will be working during Spring Break to develop plans for access to our school lunch program as well as other critical student services during the closure. We will have plans in place by March 23,” Superintendent Rob Watson noted in a news release.
Several post-spring break activities will need to be postponed, rescheduled or canceled. The ACT test to be given to all Juniors on March 24 will need to be rescheduled and will be made up later in the spring.
Anyone with questions about specific activities a student's school is being advised to check with the building principal.
Newly released guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding large events and mass gatherings recommends canceling all events of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks.
MCPS is now canceling or postponing any school event that exceeds this limit as well as any event that may be smaller than 50 but includes members of our community interacting with students and/or staff at the event. According to a news release, exceptions would be any event that is essential to the function of the school such as school lunch programs or after school care programs at elementary schools.
MCPS notes that anyone with medical questions about COVID-19 to contact their health care provider or the Missoula City-County Health Department at (406) 258-INFO.