Malta School Board passes "emergency motion" on March 17

The Malta Public School’s Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting on Tuesday morning at noon, March 17, and passed a unanimously “unquarantined emergency“ motion.

Board Chair Mark Knudsen moved that the Malta Public School District Board of Trustees declare an unquarantined emergency “due to the community and school health concern the COVID-19” virus “and authorize the administration to take necessary steps to execute this declaration and inform the public and government agencies of this declaration.”

The Board unanimously approved the motion, 5-0, with Knudsen voting yes at the meeting and fellow Trustees Carter Clausen, Levi Tatafu, Greg Skiff, and Kevin Koss submitting their yes votes via conference call. Malta Public Schools Business Manager/District Clerk Jane Knudsen joined Board Chair Knudsen and Malta Public School Superintendent Kris Kuehn at the teacher’s workroom at Malta High School for the noon meeting.

The meeting comes two days after Montana Governor Steve Bullock announced on Sunday evening that all Montana schools, grades K-through-12, are to shut down for the next two weeks (this includes Headstart and Boys & Girls Clubs.)

“Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 declare that a state of emergency exists in Montana due to the global outbreak of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus,” reads a letter from Gov. Bullock to the people of Montana. Bullock’s executive order calls for the closure of all non-residential schools in Montana starting this Monday (March 16) until Friday, March 27, says all eligible schools will still receive state payments, that schools will continue to provide meals to students who need them, and the state will work with schools during this period and evaluate and announce next steps.

Gov. Bullock's Executive Order and State of Emergency Declaration came two days after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a national emergency.

“We are just making sure that we cover our bases so funding will still be available as this unforeseen stuff is going on,” Board Chair Knudsen said Tuesday afternoon.

Trustee Skiff asked if students will have to make up missed time at school and Supt. Kuehn said that the question is still up in the air.

“The Governor has kind of waffled on his stance on whether funding will continue through the shutdown so what (the emergency motion) is really all about is buying us at least a day so that we can pay everyone,” Supt. Kuehn said. “Governor Bullock is supposed to give us clarification by the end of the day.”

Supt. Kuehn said that everything else announced by the Malta Public Schools for dealing with the school’s closure on Monday will remain the same. In response to Gov. Bullock’s ordered shutdown, Malta Public Schools announced that the elementary, middle and high schools are planning on offering school breakfast and lunch and meal pickup will be available at the East Door of the Malta High School from 8-10 a.m., starting Wednesday, March 18. Meals will be available for all Malta Public School students and they will be able to pick up breakfast and lunch at the same time for that day.

“We are trying to determine which of our students do not have internet access at home,” Supt. Kuehn said Monday. “Students without internet access will be provided with alternative content.”

Supt. Kuehn said Tuesday that on-site instruction will start on Monday, March 23. If Malta students need to check out a device or gather items from their lockers, they will be able to do so on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

“Our teachers had a great day this morning in preparation for starting instruction on Monday,” Supt. Kuehn said, adding that he would hopefully be sending an updated press release to the PCN and for social media later Tuesday evening.

Editied at 2:18 p.m., March 17.