by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski
At 6:30 AM the District received a call that FBMS didn’t have any power and that the basement in the Central Office was flooded. The main electrical panels were submerged under water. In addition to not having power, the District lost phone and internet services throughout the district as Frank Brattin Middle School is the point of distribution. School was canceled for the day (February 10, 2021) at FBMS. All other schools resumed normal operations as middle school students were sent home.
At this time, partial power is being supplied through an external generator. Water is being pumped out of the middle school a truck load at a time. Electrical panels are being dried out, but won’t be functional for several days. If electrical components need replaced, we will not know that until we attempt to power the panels back up. Some of these components are no longer available and may take time to replace.
The District has developed contingency plans as services are being restored. On Thursday, February 11, 2021 middle school students will receive their educational services remotely allowing the middle school faculty to prepare their assigned rooms at Colstrip High School for educational delivery on the following Monday. On Friday, February 12, 2021 there is no school due to a scheduled Professional Development Work day for the instructional staff. If FBMS isn’t able to restore power, then on Monday, February 15, 2021, middle school students will receive face-to-face instruction at Colstrip High School starting at 8:10 AM (normal schedule). FBMS students will be dropped off at CHS and immediately brought into the cafeteria for breakfast and/or sent to the CHS Auditorium where they will meet with their principal as well as first period teacher then escorted to their classroom. The first period teacher will review schedules then make sure students are given directions and escorted, if necessary, to their second period class and so on… Most of the middle school classes are all located on the lower level of the CHS building. The Principal’s Office is also located there as well.
High school students will be served lunch from 10:57 to 11:57 AM in the CHS cafeteria. Middle school students will be served lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 PM in the CHS cafeteria. The high school and middle school students will remain separated throughout the day. At the end of the day, the middle school students will be escorted back to the auditorium and dismissed to get on their bus by the principal. There will be appropriate staffing to monitor student arrival and dismissal to and from the buses. Middle school parents who wish to pick up their students are asked to do so in the upper parking lot at the activity entrance. Students that are dropped off late, are asked to come into the CHS main entrance and check in. They will be seated until an office staff member escorts them to class or the lower level office.
Students who normally walk to school at FBMS are asked to get on a bus at the appropriate time and place as they did when attending Pine Butte Elementary. Transportation Director, Robin Nansel will post the pick-up times and places. You may call her if you have any questions.
Principal Alicia O'Toole and the office staff will be located in the old textile/sewing room located on the lower level of Colstrip High School. We will transfer her phone extension to the new location. You are welcome to reach her accordingly.
The District will continue with this face-to-face instructional delivery until Frank Brattin has restored its power and heat.
Middle school students, as well as the rest of the district, will continue to follow COVID-19 guidelines and wear masks and maintain social distancing throughout the school day.
We apologize for the inconvenience and confusion that this may cause; however, we value face-to-face instructional delivery and believe this to be best for students. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact your building principal.
