MISSOULA — In a press release sent from Missoula County Public School administration starting Monday March 23, there is an optional pick-up for students' personal belongings at all schools:
Families can come during these times:
- 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Families with last names starting with A-H
- 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Families with last names starting with I-P
- 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Families with last names starting with Q-Z
These times can be used for families and students to pick up personal items from their lockers, pick up instruments, and pick up medications.
Access to classrooms will be granted only if a student has an essential element in the classroom. There will be no library book checkouts. Families will also be able to pick up loaner laptops on a first come, first served basis for families who have no access to a computer in their home.
Remember that you do not have to come to the school on Monday. It is an option if you need to pick up things from your classroom. If you don’t need to come to school, please stay at home. If you do plan to stop by, please remember the social distancing guidelines and limit your time in the school.
During the school closure period, school lunch and breakfast program is open to all youth for free, ages under 18 and even homeschool or private school students from other school districts. There is no limitation or previous qualification for free or reduced lunch.
These schools will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday to pick up meals:
- Chief Charlo
- Franklin
- Lowell
- Russell
Meals will also be delivered on all elementary school bus routes between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. However any youth under 18 will be able to grab a lunch at the stop, regardless of grade level.
Please send only one person from each family (this can be an adult) to pick up the meals at a pick up site or a bus stop for youth under 18 in your household. When picking up meals at a school site or a bus stop, please maintain a 6 foot distance from others waiting in line for meals.
Infofinder routes have been revised so that parents will see the exact time when the bus will arrive at their stop. When searching for a bus stop, parents need to put in their address and then use the drop down menu to select the appropriate elementary school closest to their home.
If you have questions about how the food was prepared or specific ingredients, please contact the schools' food service department at 728-2400 ext. 3023 or 5012 or slrossmiller@mcps.k12.mt.us
As the community gets adjusted to the new normal with schools closed, the administration want to help the community plan on a communications schedule so they will know when there is updated information.
- District level communications will come out on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays by 3 p.m.
- School level communications will come out on Tuesdays and Thursdays by 3 p.m.
- All staff will be checking their emails and responding to emails and phone calls as they are able during the week of 3/23/20. Return phone calls may come from a number that says No Caller ID, Unknown, or Blocked because we will not be using our school phones to return calls.
During the week of March 23-27, the Teaching and Learning Department will have some basic and general learning activities posted on the district's website for all parents to access for all grades PreK through 12th grade. Visit www.mcpsmt.org/covid-19 and click the REMOTE LEARNING button.
Special education teachers, related service providers, and para educators will work to gather materials and develop support activities to allow students to maintain skills with regard to IEP goals. These materials will be in addition to any educational materials that are already provided by general education teachers and will be sent to parents by March 27th.
The Special Education Coordinators will work with school staff and the Teaching and Learning Department to put together additional student learning resources that will start the week of March 30th if the schools are still closed. The focus areas will include Reading, Writing, Math, Self-Help/Independence, Social/Emotional/ Behavioral.
Governor Steve Bullock’s Directive toself quarantine after international travel was released on Thursday.
“As Montanans return from spring break, Montanans who have been traveling internationally should take the proactive step to self-quarantine for 14 days to avoid spreading the virus in their community,” Governor Bullock said. “Prevention is our best tool for combatting COVID-19. The ability to slow new infections is in our hands and our friends and neighbors are counting on us to do the right thing.”
Missoula County Public Schools, School District #1, does not have a confirmed case of coronavirus in schools. If this was to occur, the administration will initiate crisis communications plan and notify staff and parents/guardians within the school via text, email, and phone call as well as place updates on this website and our social media platforms.
All MCPS buildings are closed, including the Business Building, Administration Building, all school sites PK-12, and the Lifelong Learning Center.
The CDC has released new guidance regarding large events and mass gatherings. The CDC recommends canceling all events of 50 or more people until May 8, 2020. MCPS and schools will be canceling or rescheduling any school-related event that exceeds this limit- including the Strategic Planning Meeting scheduled for March 25, high school proms, and any concerts and special events planned at schools between now and May 8, 2020.
Mark Beckman from MHSA shared the following information:
- All MHSA spring activities will be indefinitely suspended until further notice. This includes practices and contests/meet/festivals. The Executive Board will reevaluate this situation on April 13th and any additional information regarding spring activities will be provided as it becomes available.
- If spring activities are resumed, the practice requirement for sports at that time will be five practices from resumption except for golf which will be the normal two practices required.
- Post season formats will be adjusted by conferences as necessary with MHSA approval.
This information impacts our HS spring sports as well as our upcoming District Music Festival. Coaches will not hold any practices until further notice from MHSA.
The Missoula County Public Schools are still working with OPI and the Governor’s office to determine whether or not they will be required to extend the school year.