The State of Montana is providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to school districts to ease the transition as schools prepare to go back to the classroom this fall.
Gov. Steve Bullock and members of the Montana National Guard visited Hellgate Elementary School in Missoula on Tuesday where they unloaded 30,000 masks, 3,000 gloves, thermometers, and face shields for the school.
Gov. Bullock said supplies are allocated based on student population and that PPE deliveries will continue at every single school district in Montana.
"We want to make sure that they have the support that they need. So at the state level, after talking to schools and teachers, decided to bulk buy and get materials out."
Hellgate Superintendent Doug Reisig said these supplies will provide the safest possible atmosphere for students and staff.
"I think our parents have confidence in what we're trying to do, not only educationally, but from a safety standpoint for their kids," said Reisig. "I think they have confidence in a school setting, and so they want their kids back."
Reisig told MTN News that of the 1,500 students at Hellgate, less than 200 have opted for remote learning.
The Montana National Guard and the Montana Disaster and Emergency Services will continue deliveries across the state in the coming weeks.
