COVID-19 Plan of Action for Student Services During School Closure

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

On Friday at 3:30 PM the Colstrip School Board of Trustees unanimously approved the COVID-19 Action Plan. The Plan was sent to the Governor's Office and has received approval today to begin the Plan March 30, 2020. The District is in an excellent position to provide remote learning to our students. With Chromebook One-to-one services as well as a host of programs utilized during regular instruction, off-site remote learning should go well. If you do not have internet access, please contact the school, see the number below.

If your child has picked up their Chromebook, you should start seeing information pushed out by your classroom teachers and administration starting on Monday, March 30, 2020 if you haven't received it already. See the Action Plan for more details.

Below is the Action Plan and the expectations set forth for delivering off-site learning, school meals, services for students with disabilities as well other services customarily provided.

If you have any questions please call at 406-748-4699 extension 3400.

Information has been and will be shared through the follow venues:

• Emails

• Phone Messenger

• Colstrip Public School Website

• Facebook 

COVID-19 Action Plan

Offsite learning instruction and structure: 

• Colstrip Public Schools is asking the certified teaching staff to be electronically available during the hours of 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM during school calendar days providing instruction to students through the following mechanism:
• On-line Courses
• Video chats/tutoring
• Phone conference calls
• All students have been issued Chromebooks that they currently use at school for access to on-line programming. Those that do not have on-line access will be provided hard copy packets on a bi-weekly basis. 
• Information will be pushed out to students and parents using at least one of the following: email, Google Classroom or Dojo. 
• The District will be using IXL as the main resource to provide educational services; however, IXL by itself is not sufficient and in some cases does not provide support to some contents and age groups. Therefore,  IXL will be complemented by other appropriate on-line services through Google Classroom or DoJo such as SuccessMaker, Edready and iReady. Teachers are encouraged to utilize other on-line sources as well; however, the District requires K-12 student participation with IXL in applicable contents. Variations must be approved by the Curriculum Director, Susan Sharkey. IXL is appropriate in that it is very user friendly and that it is diagnostic and analytical in its delivery and provides systemic reporting of student engagement and mastery learning for following up with the Montana Office of Public Instruction and Governor’s office. 
• Point of fact, IXL is an intuitive program that also allows maximum input by the instructor while providing redirection during student use through the program. IXL also provides analytics and diagnostics that give up-to-the-minute insights, which pinpoints students' overall working grade levels and their levels on key strands. The Diagnostic Strand Analysis makes differentiation a breeze showing you the most common skill recommendations needed. Once again, IXL will also allow District-wide reporting that aligns with Montana Common Core Standards and student mastery. 
• Teachers will assign skill based lessons using IXL through either Google Classroom or DoJo. DoJo or Google Classroom can also be used to push out content and provide student learning experiences. The District understands that the developed educational services will look different in almost every class and will do our best to provide consistent parameters for students, parents and teachers to follow. 
• The District is providing access to these opportunities through the school website at http://colstripschoolsdigital.org. Technology Supervisor, Mike Lovato is working on the website to establish links for learning appropriate to student classes and grades. Students will be able to gain fluency and confidence in math, reading and language arts! The identified programs and interventions will help students master essential skills at their own pace through fun and interactive questions and built in support. We will have staff available to answer any questions as well as a helpline for students. 

School meals, consistent with what the district regularly provides: 

• Colstrip Schools has been granted a waiver through the MT Office of Public Instruction to establish an emergency Summer Food Service Program during school closure. This waiver allows Colstrip Schools to provide breakfast and lunch for all children ages 18 and younger free of charge. Participants are asked to notify the District Office (748-4699 x3400) for questions or to schedule meal pick-up. This plan will go into effect beginning Monday, March 30^th. The pick-up point will be the Ponderosa Butte Golf Course lower parking lot (softball) from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. This is a grab ‘n’ go program. Bus routes may be run as needed to deliver meals to out-of-district students.

Services for students with disabilities: 

• The District is providing a Free and Appropriate Education for students with disabilities.
• The District is conducting IDEA and 504 meetings via electronic means and/or meeting in person, but complying with The Department’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR), Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Center for Disease Control (CDC) Guidelines, State Guidelines and/or local health guidelines;
• The District is providing educational and related services, in collaboration with parents and staff, through all means available, including
• Alternative learning sites
• On-line learning
• Video chats/tutoring
• Phone conference calls
• Hard copy packets of materials
• Special Education Director, Jennifer Hickok indicates that all special education needs will be provided on-line and in alignment with student individual educational programs while adhering to social distancing. Needed meetings and reviews will be hosted virtually using programs like Zoom, Go to Meeting or Webex. 

Other services customarily provided to students: 

• Other services customarily provided must align with the Governor's directive for health and safety. 
• The District is providing guidance counseling supports and services utilizing communication forms: email, telephone, Zoom and etc. Constituents may call the District Office at 406-748-4699 for directed services.
• The District is providing social and emotional supports and services utilizing communication forms: email, telephone, Zoom and etc.  Constituents may call the District Office at 406-748-4699 for directed services.

Free Grab and Go Meals

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

SUPERINTENDENT ALERT: Starting Monday, March 30, 2020 Colstrip Public Schools will provide both breakfast and school lunch through the Summer Food Service Program. This program will serve all children ages 18 and younger. You may pick up the meals at Ponderosa Butte Golf Course lower parking lot from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Both meals will be provided at the same time. Out-of-town route-bus students may pick their meals up at their regular morning bus stop. The buses will run 4 hours later than the regular schedule to accommodate a later delivery. Please be patient as bus meal delivery may delay the scheduled bus stop. This is a grab ‘n’ go program. Bus routes will run as needed to deliver meals to out-of-district students. Participants are asked to notify the District Office if there are questions or to schedule meal pick-up at 748-4699 extension 3400.

Extended Emergency Closure Services Begining March 30, 2020

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE: March 25, 20219 

Once again, I hope this finds everyone healthy and practicing social distancing. Governor Bullock has directed that all schools will continue emergency closure through April 10, 2020. If there is not an extended closure beyond this time, students and staff will return to school on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 due to the scheduled Easter break. A plan has been developed by Colstrip Public Schools to ensure students will receive educational services, food services and special services outlined by the IDEA. 

Please note that we are in an emergency situation and that we will not be able to provide all the services that we were providing before school closure. We will not be providing services to students in-person. The Governor has required the following: Districts are expected to use this two-week period March 16 through March 27 to plan and implement ways to provide students with (1) quality public education through remote learning, (2) school meals, (3) services to students with disabilities, (4) other services customarily provided to students in school in the extended closure starting March 30, 2020.  Below is a worksheet provided by the Montana School Boards’ Association for meeting the expectations directed by the Governor. The information in blue is the current Colstrip Public School District’s response to the directed request.

Information on Expectations for the Extended Emergency Closure Starting March 30, 2020

· Districts will receive full funding and all requirements for pupil instruction will be waived following the actions below:

o   District creates a plan to provide:

• Offsite learning instruction and structure: Colstrip Public Schools is asking the certified teaching staff to be electronically available during the hours of 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM to address student needs and staff training.  The District is not asking that they hover over their computers, but be in periodic contact through electronic means in case of need. The District is aware that many of the parent questions about the educational delivery of students may come after school hours. We want to encourage that communication to take place as much as possible.

The District will be using IXL as the main resource to provide educational services; however, IXL by itself is not sufficient and in some cases does not provide support to some contents and age groups. Therefore,  IXL will be complemented by other appropriate on-line services through Google Classroom or DoJo such as SuccessMaker, Edready and iReady. Teachers are encouraged to utilize other on-line sources as well; however, the District requires K-12 student participation with IXL in applicable contents. Variations must be approved by the Curriculum Director, Susan Sharkey. The reason for requiring the use of IXL is that it is very user friendly and that it is diagnostic and analytical in its delivery and provides systemic reporting of student engagement and mastery learning for following up with the Montana Office of Public Instruction and Governor’s office. 

Point of fact, IXL is an intuitive program that also allows maximum input by the instructor while providing redirection during student use through the program. IXL also provides analytics and diagnostics that give up-to-the-minute insights, which pinpoints students' overall working grade levels and their levels on key strands. The Diagnostic Strand Analysis makes differentiation a breeze showing you the most common skill recommendations needed. Once again, IXL will also allow District-wide reporting that aligns with Montana Common Core Standards and student mastery. 

Teachers will assign skill based lessons using IXL through either Google Classroom or DoJo. DoJo or Google Classroom can also be used to push out content and provide student learning experiences. The District understands that the developed educational services will look different in almost every class; however, we are doing our best to provide consistent parameters for students, parents and teachers to follow. 

The District is providing access to these opportunities through the school website at http://colstripschoolsdigital.org. Technology Supervisor, Mike Lovato is working on the website to establish links for learning appropriate to student classes and grades. Students will be able to gain fluency and confidence in math, reading and language arts! The identified programs and interventions will help students master essential skills at their own pace through fun and interactive questions and built in support. We will have staff available to answer any of your questions as well as a helpline for students. Please email: colstrip@colstrip.k12.mt.us or call 406-748-4699 ext 3421 for more information.

• School meals, consistent with what the district regularly provides: Colstrip Schools has been granted a waiver through the MT Office of Public Instruction to establish an emergency Summer Food Service Program during school closure. This waiver allows Colstrip Schools to provide breakfast and lunch for all children ages 18 and younger free of charge. Please notify the District Office (748-4699 x3400) for questions or to schedule meal pick-up.This plan will go into effect beginning Monday, March 30^th. The pick-up point will be the Ponderosa Butte Golf Course lower parking lot (softball) from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. This is a grab ‘n’ go program. Parents must have a child with them in order to pick up the meals.

• Services for students with disabilities: Special Education Director, Jennifer Hickok indicated that all special education needs will be provided on-line and in alignment with student individual educational programs while adhering to social distancing. Needed meetings and reviews will be hosted virtually using programs like Zoom, Go to Meeting or Webex. The staff will do everything possible to maintain compliance with Federal law and the IDEA.
• Other services customarily provided to students: Other services customarily provided must align with the Governor's directive for health and safety. 

o   Board of Trustees approves the district plan: The Colstrip School Board of Trustees approved the following motion on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 Emergency Meeting: Colstrip School Board of Trustees approves remote learning opportunities for student proficiency located offsite through the District Website and other electronic services beginning immediately 20-1-202(5); 20-1-101(14); 20-7-118; 20-9-311(11) MCA.

o   The Governor, in consultation with OPI, approves the Board-endorsed plan and waives requirements for pupil instruction.

o   The District will submit periodic reports on the status of:

§  Offsite learning instruction and structure: The District will use the electronic platforms mentioned to provide evidence for offsite learning instruction and student engagement. 

§  School meals, consistent with what the district regularly provides: The District will follow the parameters of the Summer Food Service Program as outlined and provide meal counts and reports as requested.

§  Services for students with disabilities: Educational services will be aligned with individual education plans. All adjustments will meet IDEA requirements. Reviews of Individual Educational Plans will be available for the Montana Office of Public Instruction to review. 

As the District moves forward in these uncertain times, Colstrip Public Schools will do everything possible to continue to serve our students. We are very thankful and proud of the administrators, staff members and teachers that are out on the front lines delivering services. We are working hard to communicate and develop a means to provide the services listed above. This is being done with our hands-tied behind our backs. Almost all of our pedagogical training allows for interpersonal exchanges that we know longer have at this time. Providing remote learning opportunities without face to face meetings is unprecedented; however, our District has been blessed to have an electronic infrastructure to facilitate remote learning. Thank you for the effort and patience needed to help our children’s learning opportunities despite the circumstances. 

Please stay safe and healthy.

Governor Bullock Extends School Closure

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Today, Governor Bullock has directed that all schools will continue emergency closure through April 10, 2020. As directed by the Governor, a plan has been developed by Colstrip Public Schools to ensure students will receive educational services, food services and special services outline by the IDEA. Please be patient as we continue to communicate any changes that will take place with the latest Governor directive.

Educational Services During COVID-19 Emergency School Closure

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

This is a reminder that Colstrip Public Schools will continue to provide both breakfast and school lunch for all students through Friday, March 27, 2020. Both meals will be provided at the same time. In-town students may pick meals up from 7:45 AM to 8:15 AM at the activities entrance of Frank Brattin Middle School. Students will not be allowed to enter the building.

Out-of-town route bus students may pick their meals up at their regular morning bus stop at the regular morning pick-up time. Please be patient as bus meal delivery may delay the regular scheduled bus stop. To assure your meals are available for pick-up, please call the following number 406-748-4699 ext 3400 by 9:00 AM the day before to confirm.

Our goal at this time is to follow the Governor’s directive and prepare for delivering educational services beyond March 27, 2020 if needed. Some teachers are already communicating student needs to parents and loved ones.  Moving forward we will attempt to identify students that do not have internet access to provide alternatives to electronic services.

The District is encouraging all students to pick up their Chromebooks at their earliest convenience. Elementary parents must sign for their child’s Chromebook before it is checked out. Chromebooks can be checked out at your child’s school during the day. The District will also be providing Chromebook check-outs Monday through Friday for all out-of-town students at their regularly scheduled morning bus stop at its regularly scheduled time. Once again, elementary parents will have to sign the checkout before the Chromebook is distributed. We ask that all students' Chromebooks are picked up regardless of whether there is a home alternative or not. Student educational content will be pushed out through Chromebooks if school closure continues after March 27, 2020. Thank you for your cooperation during this difficult time. Stay safe and healthy. Thank you.

COVID-19 Staff Update March 19

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Below is an update provided to CPS staff on March 19, 2020:

Once again I hope everyone is healthy and safe. As we continue to practice social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, I want to provide you an update. At this time we are working on developing a viable academic delivery system if we are quarantined beyond March 27, 2020. This is very difficult with the quarantine. I feel like we are being asked to do this with our hands tied behind our back. This is especially difficult with minimal staff input; therefore, the administration is communicating and planning through email. The Colstrip School Board of Trustees approved the following motion on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 Emergency Meeting: Colstrip School Board of Trustees approves remote learning opportunities for student proficiency located offsite through the District Website and other electronic services beginning immediately 20-1-202(5); 20-1-101(14); 20-7-118; 20-9-311(11) MCA.

At this time, we anticipate the emergency school closure to go beyond March 27, 2020. If this happens, we want to provide a systemic viable curriculum. The District has the means to push out electronic services through student Chromebooks. We will not be able to push out mass paper packets due to restricted resources, redirection time for learning, delivery of information to all students, as well as appropriate social distancing; therefore, the District will utilize student Chromebooks as the gateway for educational services during these restrictive times. Here is how the District will execute this process in each building:

• PBES: Elementary Chromebooks will be available for distribution as soon as March 20. Elementary teachers will communicate with parents through Dojo and email as to the use of the Chromebooks and tools available to students through electronic services. Please be patient as we clean and disinfect these tools before distribution.

• FBMS: Chromebooks will be available for distribution as soon as March 20.  As soon as 6-8 students have access to their Chromebooks, teachers will begin to push out classroom information through student email after March 27, if the closure is extended. The principal will provide direction to the staff at that time. 

• CHS: High school students already have access to their Chromebooks. If Chromebooks have been left at school, students are asked to come pick up their Chromebooks. Teachers may begin to communicate with students at that time.

All teachers are encouraged to develop electronic deliveries through Google Classroom, Dojo as well as other digital sources currently utilized in the District.

Because it is very important that the District be able to verify curriculum delivery for students to the Office of Public Instruction after March 27, the District is establishing remote learning opportunities through the use of IXL and Screencastify as well as with other current programs. The District will provide more direction in the utilization of these programs in the days to come. The use of these types of programs will help assure our local delivery of state mandates through an electronic means.

Teachers will check in and out through the building office. In order to facilitate equal access while maintaining appropriate social distancing, teachers will be restricted to (1) hour per day isolated entry and exit in their buildings. Tools such as the copy machine must be wiped down after use and there should not be multiple individuals congregating around while waiting for its use. The District has asked the building administration to police social distancing and building use. 

Our goal at this time is to follow the Governor’s directive and prepare for delivering educational services beyond March 27, 2020 if needed. For those that are already communicating student needs to parents and students, thank you. Moving forward we will attempt to identify students that do not have internet access to provide alternatives to electronic services. 

The District is providing access to these opportunities through the school website at http://colstripschoolsdigital.org. Mike Lovato is working on the website to establish links for learning appropriate to student classes and grade. Students will be able to gain fluency and confidence in math, reading and language arts! The identified programs and interventions will help students master essential skills at their own pace through fun and interactive questions and built in support. We will have staff available to answer any of your questions as well as a helpline for students. Please email: colstrip@colstrip.k12.mt.us or call 406-748-4699 ext 3421 for more information. 

Additional communication from building leadership will be coming soon via email, FaceBook and the District Website. The Superintendent’s Office will continue to send urgent messages by phone, text and email. You may also visit the Superintendent’s Blog for additional information: https://colstrip-superintendent-blog.blogspot.com/. 

COVID-19 District Response Update

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

As Superintendent, the first thing  I would like to do is extend my wishes for everyone’s health and safety during this difficult time. Our administrative team has been on the front lines working to find solutions for our students’ educational needs. As you are aware, the Governor has directed that all schools be closed through March 27 due to COVID-19 pandemic. Our Governor as well as the President of the United States has asked everyone to abide by social distancing and minimize gatherings larger than 10 people. The District is doing everything possible to abide by the COVID-19 Health and Safety Planning Checklist to ensure we are doing everything possible in preventing exposure or the possible spread of COVID-19. 

In addition to the checklist, please use the following as a quick reference from the Center of Disease Control (CDC) in dealing with COVID-19

• Stop The Spread of Germs and COVID-19
• Stop Germs Wash Your Hands
• COVID-19 Symptoms
• 10 Things You Can Do to Manage Your Life at Home (if you have COVID-19)

The District has taken steps to make sure our children have the opportunity to receive their nutritional requirements. Colstrip Public Schools will provide both breakfast and school lunch for all students from Wednesday, March 18 through Friday, March 27, 2020. Both meals will be provided at the same time. In-town students may pick meals up from 7:45 AM to 8:15 AM at the activities entrance of Frank Brattin Middle School. Students will not be allowed to enter the building. 

Out-of-town route bus students may pick their meals up at their regular morning bus stop at the regular morning pick-up time beginning Wednesday, March 18. Please be patient as bus meal delivery may delay the regular scheduled bus stop. To assure your meals are available for pick-up, please call the following number 406-748-4699 ext 3400 by 9:00 AM the day before to confirm. 

On Tuesday, March 17, 2020 the School Board approved submitting an application for the Summer Foods Service Program. If accepted the District will be able to provide lunches to all children ages 0-18. The Program’s point of service will change locations if the District is accepted. We will keep everyone informed of those changes and places in which meals can be picked up. 

We have essential staff working during the shut down. Secretaries and principals are available to answer phone calls. In addition, if you may pick up needed medication or other items at your school. You may call in advance or simply come to the front door of your child’s school building. 

The educational needs of the students are also being served. In an emergency meeting, the School Board authorized the leadership team to work with teaching staff on identifying and developing learning opportunities through the District Website and other electronic services beginning immediately. Even though teachers have been asked to stay home, we are working together to engage students at their learning levels. The District is providing access to these opportunities through the school website at http://colstripschoolsdigital.org. Students are able to gain fluency and confidence in math, reading and language arts! The identified programs and interventions help students master essential skills at their own pace through fun and interactive questions, built in support, and motivating awards. We have staff available to answer any of your questions as well as a helpline for students. Please email: colstrip@colstrip.k12.mt.us or call 406-748-4699 ext 3421 for more information. 

Additional communication from building leadership will be coming soon via email, Facebook and the District Website. The Superintendent’s Office will continue to send urgent messages by phone, text and email. You may also visit the Superintendent’s Blog for additional information: https://colstrip-superintendent-blog.blogspot.com/. 

Additional Links and Resources:

• Tips for talking with children about COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html
• Montana COVID-19 Webpage:https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/cdepi/diseases/coronavirusmt
• Local public health jurisdiction contact information: https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/FCSS/countytribalhealthdepts

These times are certainly unprecedented and uncharted. We ask that everyone is patient. The District is doing its best to follow state and federal directives. We understand the extreme sacrifices that are being made by everyone to contain COVID-19 in order to save lives. Colstrip Public Schools will do its part in helping where it can and sacrificing where is needed. Please take care of yourself and others and stay home as much as you can. 

Blessings and prayers,

Superintendent Bob Lewandowski