More students returning to in-person classes in C-Falls

More and more students are returning to Columbia Falls schools, opting out of remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic.

All four of Columbia Falls schools reported sharp increases in the number of returning students during the school board meeting last week.

At Glacier Gateway, the number of students went from about 100 to 50 in the past few weeks. It also saw 15 homeschooled students return as well, principal Penni Anello said. At Ruder Elementary, the number of remote students was at 29, but that was falling as well, principal Brenda Krueger said.

The same held true at the junior high, principal Ted Miller said. He said at the start of the year, they had more than 100 remote students, that number has since been halved. The high school was about the same — initially about 100, now down to 59, principal Scott Gaiser said.

The high school has also been picking up out-of-state students who have recently moved here, Gaiser noted.

There are problems with some students. Gaiser said the school currently has about six students that were on remote learning that have simply dropped out of school work entirely.

Coronavirus cases have also dropped at the schools. There hadn’t been a case since Jan. 4, but just this week, two more cases had been reported. The county total still has more than 500 active cases.