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.