Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Montana School Reopens With Safety Measures

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 05/11/20

Students at Willow Creek School in Montana returned to school on Thursday, reports CNN. The school, which serves between 50-60 students in grades K-12, is one of the first in the United States to reopen after schools shut down in March.

Some schools in Montana and in Idaho reopened last week with only a few weeks left until the summer break.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock allowed schools in the state to reopen as early as May 7, with the decision left up to local districts. Gallatin County, where Willow Creek is located, had 146 confirmed coronavirus cases and one death. Currently, there are no active cases in the county, reported CNN.

Bonnie Lower, superintendent at Willow Creek, says 76% of parents were in favor of reopening the school, according to a poll.

Some of the changes Willow Creek implemented included:  

  • Staff wear masks and carry pool noodles to measure distance between students.
  • Each student's temperature is taken at the door.
  • Students alternate when they are let out of class so there are fewer students in the hallways at once.
  • Common areas are being disinfected regularly.
  • Every classroom has hand sanitizer and wipes.
  • Bathrooms are used one at a time.
  • There are distancing marks on the playground.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • University of Kentucky Receives $150M Gift Toward New Arts District

    The University of Kentucky’s Board of Trustees recently received a $150-million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation, according to a university news release, to build a new arts district on the campus in Lexington, Ky. The new district will feature a new College of Fine Arts building and a multi-hundred-seat theater, among other amenities.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.