Several small schools are planning to reopen in parts of Montana as soon as this Thursday, according to local education officials. The schools have under 100 students each, and have come up with comprehensive plans to ensure student and teacher safety, they say.
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock said schools may reopen as soon as May 7, although it’s up to the local districts to decide whether or not they wish to open, according to a release distributed April 22.
Willow Creek School, which has between 50 to 60 students in grades K-12, will be opening May 7, according to Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools, Matthew Henry.
While Willow Creek is not in his district, Henry confirmed to CNN that Willow Creek’s board “had voted unanimously to reopen and practice the social distancing guidelines.”
In Garfield County, the Cohagen Elementary School, grades K-8, will also reopen on May 7.
According to Garfield County Superintendent Heather Gibson, it is a one-teacher schoolhouse with 14 students, who come from 4 families. Gibson said she believes all 14 students plan on coming back.
“We came up with a comprehensive plan to ensure that distancing was going to be possible,” Gibson told CNN. “It being only 14 kids, it makes it easy,” she added.
Three other schools in Gallatin County are either reopening or finalizing plans to reopen later in May.
Gallatin County currently has zero active coronavirus cases.