MISSOULA — Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) leaders are releasing details of their plan for students' return to five-day-a-week "in class" learning over the next two weeks.
They're expressing confidence of keeping the in school transmission of COVID infections "near zero."
Last week, MCPS trustees approved the modified "Phase 2" plan, marking the first time Missoula students will be back in class for a full week since the pandemic first hit last spring.
That starts with K-through-2 students, and middle school students returning to class every day, starting on Monday, Jan. 25. Then, thrid through fifth grade, and high school students will transition the following week.
The district will follow the latest Harvard Guidelines, which were based on new research about school cases, plus local info showing improvement.
"What we saw this fall is that we had very few, out of all the positive cases we saw, we had very few that we could trace back to a transmission in school," said MCPS Superintendent Dr. Rob Watson. "Most of the cases came from outside the school. And so I think that's good news for us. I think we're doing well. But we're going to have to continue to be vigilant."
The district will continue to offer the option of the Missoula Online Academy for parents who are still concerned about have their children in class full time. Additional details on the schedule are available on the MCPS website.
