August 13, 2020

Dear Campus Community,

As UM students begin to arrive on campus and the start of fall semester approaches, I realize that many faculty and staff members are struggling with how to do their best work in the coming weeks while simultaneously needing to provide care for school-aged children. This is a particular concern for full-time employees with K-5 children in the Missoula County Public School System. MCPS announced Tuesday that the school year will start with a hybrid model that includes two days of in-person instruction per child each week.

Along with Dean Adrea Lawrence and other UM leaders, I am working with MCPS Superintendent Rob Watson to brainstorm strategies for how UM might support our employees during the hybrid-model time period. To fully assess the need, I am asking employees with K-5 children in the MCPS system who require supplemental education and childcare to complete a survey by 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14.

While we'd like to provide resources for all UM faculty and staff members with children, we know that parents of elementary-aged children are particularly in need. To fully understand the difficulties parents with older children are facing, however, the survey also includes space where employees can describe their challenges in juggling work and parenting responsibilities.

Once survey data is compiled, more information will be forthcoming about any supplemental education and childcare that UM and MCPS might be able to provide. Meanwhile, thank you for your collective and generous efforts to support our new and returning UM students!

Seth