Framework gives local schools starting point

School is going to look a lot different for the 2020/21 school year.

With Gov. Brad Little pushing for students to return to schools in the fall, along with the Idaho State Board of Education approving a framework plan to safely open schools last week, it appears that kids will be in classrooms.

That framework is still being taken under advisement for many school districts, including the local districts in Kellogg and Wallace who are going to see what they can do to apply that framework to a school board-approved plan to reopen.

The Idaho Back to School Framework sets expectations, establishes guidelines and best practices for school districts and charter schools to use to open school buildings and plan for necessary actions based on local public health conditions.

ISBOE President Debbie Critchfield said opening schools is a priority and local school officials should use the Back to School Framework as a guide in working with local stakeholders and public health districts to open schools in a manner that fits local circumstances.

What they came up with was three categories that schools will fall into, which will essentially guide the actions of the district and its board.

Category 1 includes no or limited community transmission. Schools in that category should open buildings for face-to-face classes with physical distancing and sanitation procedures, the state plan recommends.

Category 2 includes minimal to moderate community transmission. Schools in that category should consider a range of options from full opening to limited or staggered use of school buildings.

And Category 3 includes large-scale community transmission that impacts health care staffing or sees multiple cases in schools, mass gatherings or health care facilities. Those schools should consider short- or long-term closures.

Most school districts will likely exist in Category 2, but with the three school districts in Shoshone County being on the smaller side, it will likely see a blend of Category 1 and 2 as long as transmission stays exceptionally low.

“We put this framework together with help from educators, administrators, public health officials and lawmakers,” Critchfield added. “Local governance is paramount in Idaho’s public education system. We want these decisions to be made locally and this framework is designed to help school board trustees to do what they think is best for their schools and their situation on the ground.”

In Kellogg, Superintendent Dr. Nancy Larsen has formed a Back To School Planning Committee that will work in the coming weeks to come up with the best possible plan for reopening the four facilities that they operate out of.

“I’m glad to have the guidance coming from the state,” Larsen said. “We’re aching to get back to school and normal. Our kids well-being and performance are so important to us; however, the landscape keeps changing daily. We’ll be diligent to plan for the optimum situation, but we may be faced with new challenges that are unforeseen. So, we’ll be diligent, flexible, and hopeful in preparing for the future.”

The Wallace School District, under the guidance of new Superintendent Todd Howard, had a committee formed and working toward a comprehensive plan almost as soon as school ended.

“The Wallace School District will be looking at the information provided in the ‘framework,’ health department information, survey results and staff committee involvement/feedback to help us develop a plan so that we are ready for all possible levels of community spread,” Howard said. “Our re-opening committee has been meeting during the months of June and July. We hope to wrap up our draft plan on July 20 in hopes to have the plan reviewed by Panhandle Health and the Wallace School Board by July 27. Once our plan is approved, we will analyze the current level of community spread to tell us what level of opening we will be at for the start of school on Aug. 27.”

No word was received from the Mullan School District, but with an average attendance of right around 100 students for the entire district, social distancing should be relatively easy for them to accomplish between the two buildings they occupy.

As each school district announces its plans, the Shoshone News-Press will publish the details for our valued readers.