MISSOULA — Faced with a growing number of COVID-19 cases in the schools, and community as a whole, Missoula County Public School leaders are looking to delay a transition to more in class learning.
The district has been operating under a "hybrid" model since the start of the year, where all students have remote learning on Mondays, with the student body split alphabetically for two days on in class learning. Classes have also been starting later to accommodate social distancing on the buses.
It was just last week administrators said they hoped to move to a "hybrid plus" model, which would bring all students back to class Tuesday through Friday.
But with a climb in cases, that plan is being re-evaluated.
Thursday night, there will be a special board meeting where the district will discuss a one week delay of the "hybrid plus" model for elementary and middle school students that wouldn't start until October 19th.
High School and Willard Alternative School students wouldn't switch to that schedule until November 9th. And that depends on the transmission rate, number of active cases and the number of cases per 1-hundred thousand people in Missoula County.
Through September 25th, MCPS had reported 8 active COVID-19 cases among students or staff, with 73 "close contacts" directly tied to "in person" learning.
Only Seeley Lake has been operating under the Phase 2 model, where students are attending all five days with precautions.
