Chinook Public Schools Approves Reopening Plan

By Josh Margolis

CHINOOK, Mont. (NMB) – The Chinook Public School Board met on Tuesday evening and approved a reopening plan.

The plan includes three phases, which are aligned with the Governor’s phases for reopening.

Montana is in Phase 2 of reopening, which means Chinook intends on beginning the school year in Phase 2 of their plan.

Phase 2 of Chinook’s plan calls for a normal schedule at full capacity, with the option to switch to blended learning if later deemed necessary.

Face coverings or face shields will be recommended, but not required, for students and staff.

Precautions that will be in place include staggering lunch times to allow no more than 50 people to congregate in the cafeteria, only having the fill station portion of drinking fountains operable, moving larger-size classes into bigger spaces in order to practice social distancing, holding outdoor classes when possible, and having temperatures of students taken prior to them getting on an activity bus (eg: sports, clubs, etc.).

Families of children that do not want them participating in in-class learning can fill out an opt-out form and engage in remote learning. They will then be ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities (although 504s and extenuating circumstances may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis).

The first day of school is scheduled for August 26th.