On Sept. 3, students will be back at North Country Union High School in Newport.However, starting the year will be a much different learning experience from anything they're used to.Multiple failed PCB tests this summer are forcing the student body to not be inside their school building.Instead, they'll be starting the year in tents.On Thursday, at an Open House inside one of the tents, it was the school administration's first in-person opportunity to explain to parents and students what happened this summer."It became very clear very quickly that the work was going to buck up against the start of school," said Principal Christopher Young.The initial news caught students, like incoming sophomore Henry Mohs, off guard. "I didn't know how to react at first, but when I heard that they were doing it on their wedding tents and things, I think it's a very good solution," Mohs said. "I'm very impressed also that they got us on their feet so quickly."The six white tents will serve as temporary solutions for classrooms and offices.They are equipped with electricity and internet.Mohs said it's better than being remote, like they were during the pandemic."I found it very problematic, like just sitting at home, the only source of education was like a phone or a laptop," Mohs said.Harris Kinsey, a parent of an incoming Junior and Freshman, agrees with that assessment."For a lot of students, I think they really backslid during the pandemic and not being in the classroom and not having that experience, I think, really hurt a lot of students," Kinsey said.Kinsey recognizes it's nobody's fault.He praises the administration for their quick thinking."I think they're doing great work, and hopefully, it's not too long before they can just be back in the building," Kinsey said.While future tests will need to show acceptable PCB levels before they can move back indoors, Young hopes state leaders can be looked at as resources, as they navigate the unprecedented challenge to begin the school year."It can be too easy for Montpelier to forget about us," Young said. "We want to make sure that doesn't happen, and we get the resources we need on time as possible in a safe and in-person learning environment for our students."The school's next PCB-level test is at the end of September.The results of that will impact their future plans.

On September 3rd, students will be back at North Country Union High School in Newport.

However to start the year, it will be a much different learning experience from anything they're used to.

Multiple failed PCBs tests this summer is forcing the student body to not be inside their school building.

Instead, they'll be starting the year in tents.

On Thursday at an Open House inside one of the tents, it was the school administrations' first in-person opportunity to explain to parents and students what happened this summer.

"It became very clear very quickly that the work was going to buck up against the start of school," said Principal Christopher Young.

The initial news caught students, like incoming Sophomore Henry Mohs, off guard.

"I didn't know how to react at first, but when I heard that they were doing it on their wedding tents and things, I think it's a very good solution," said Mohs. "I'm very impressed also that they got us on their feet so quickly."

The six white tents will serve as temporary solutions for classrooms and offices.

They are equipped with electricity and internet.

Mohs said it's better than being remote, like they were during the pandemic.

"I found it very problematic, like just sitting at home, the only source of education was like a phone or a laptop.," said Mohs.

Harris Kinsey, a parent of an incoming Junior and Freshman, agrees with that assessment.

"For a lot of students, I think they really backslid during the pandemic and not being in classroom and not having that experience, I think really hurt a lot of students," said Kinsey.

Kinsey recognizes it's nobody's fault.

He praises the administration for their quick thinking.

"I think they're doing great work and hopefully it's not too long before they can just be back in the building," said Kinsey.

While future tests will need to show acceptable PCB levels before they can move back indoors, Young hopes state leaders can be looked at as resources, as they navigate the unprecedented challenge to begin the school year.

"It can be too easy for Montpelier to forget about us," said Young. "We want to make sure that doesn't happen and we get the resources we need on time as possible in a safe and in-person learning environment for our students."

The school's next PCB level test is at the end of September.

The results of that will impact what their future plans are.