MISSOULA — Thursday night the Missoula County Public School Board held a special meeting to discuss the 2020-21 budget.
While the agenda focused on the budget, public comment over non-agenda items once again centered around parent and teacher concerns over the return to school.
MCPS will resume school in the Phase 1 hybrid modelon Wednesday, Aug. 26, and families will have the option to go entirely remote through the MCPS Online Academy if they choose.
But with questions from teachers and parents about how the hybrid model will work, and if it will work, many are wondering if MCPS is truly ready for Phase 1.
Marissa McClintock, a librarian at C.S. Porter Middle School, has been vocal in recent MCPS meetings.
She tuned into public comment to reiterate her hesitation to begin in-person instruction.
“As a specialist, I am extremely concerned for myself, my colleagues, and my students,” said McClintock. “As I said last Tuesday, I speak out once again in opposition of the return to in-person instruction, no matter how limited. I will be seeing at least 90 children per day, and that’s not OK.”
Following public comment, the board did address the budget discussion.
They adopted both the elementary and high school budget and an increase in budget levy for the 2020-21 school year.
