Great Falls High School is suspending in-person classes for the rest of the week due to a rise in COVID-19 cases.
Other schools across the state are also moving to remote learning during their first few weeks of class.
Great Falls Public Schools says more than 35 of its high school students and staff have contracted COVID-19. In a press release, district officials say transitioning to remote learning will give individuals time to isolate or quarantine and give custodians time to disinfect the school.
Great Falls joins a cluster of other schools that have closed some or all in-person classes due to COVID-19 cases, including schools in Park and Yellowstone counties, Eureka Elementary School, Plains High School and Rocky Boy Schools.
Rocky Boy Superintendent Voyd St. Pierre says two weeks of virtual learning will give contact tracers time to reach all those affected and to protect staff and students.
“We are trying to help and aid our community because we have a number of our students who are cared for by elderly aunts and uncles and grandparents,” St. Pierre says.
The Montana health department will be reporting COVID-19 cases in schools for the 2021 to 2022 school year. The department says it will start releasing data this month.
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