MISSOULA — Discussions over a possible schedule change at Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) are continuing.
MCPS officials say they will soon have a set schedule for after Spring Break as concerns are continuing to mount for parents, students, and staff members.
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MCPS Superintendent Rob Watson says he understands the importance of having the remainder of the academic calendar set so families have time to plan.
But he told MTN News there is a lot to consider including parent-teacher conferences, possible COVID-19 testing after long weekends, and extended breaks.
Additionally, a decision must be made about how much time teachers will need to recuperate from upcoming vaccinations.
Watson says this leaves the possibility of a five-day school week in the mix for some students.
“We know that the five-day weeks provide more opportunity for instruction, especially for our younger students. As students get older in our system, they’re able to do a little bit more independently on a remote learning day,” Watson said.
“But...we know that the solution may look different, it may look different for our younger students versus our older students,” Watson added.
Officials are also considering a summer session for students who want extra help. Watson hopes to have a final schedule in place by the end of the week.
