PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Portage Public Schools will reopen this fall with a variety of both in-person and virtual learning options, the Board of Education decided Wednesday.
During a virtual meeting, the Board of Education reviewed the plan, which provides different options for different grade levels, and also depending on what “Phase” the State of Michigan is in.
Before the plan was discussed, WWMT had reported that a protest had occurred earlier in the day, which mainly consisted of parents, teachers and other faculty that were calling for an all-virtual start to the year.
Various comments were heard from parents and teachers both before and after the meeting, many speaking in favor of all-virtual learning to start with. Others spoke in favor of allowing mixed-virtual and in-person learning, citing the importance of in-person learning for young children.
Still others said that parents had not been given enough notice about the plan, and others expressed concerns over infrastructure problems, such as lack of air conditioning while having to wear a mask inside.
Officials said that earlier surveys had shown that their ideas for mixed learning were either too strict or not strict enough.
Officials discussed their plans for what they will do to help prevent a COVID-19 outbreak inside their schools, although Superintendent Mark Bielang noted that there is no “one size fits all approach.” Different approaches for in-person learning may be different depending on the school building.
To begin with, should the area be in Phases 1-3, Portage Public Schools (PPS) will provide virtual learning for all students across every grade level, or allow students to take an online curriculum through the KRESA Virtual & Innovate Collaborative (KVIC) pilot program.
According to city documents, the one year pilot partnership uses Kalamazoo County teachers as instructors. It offers the Lincoln Learning for Y5-5th Grade and Michigan Virtual for 6th-12th Grade students as curricula. The program is aligned with the Michigan Merit Curriculum. A small number of PPS teachers trained as instructors in KVIC. More Portage Teachers will be trained as mentors.
The program for KVIC was approved for use in a separate vote.
Elementary students will attend their virtual classes Monday through Thursday with virtual instruction and support on Friday.
In-person, students will attend Monday through Thursday with virtual instruction and support on Friday.
If the area is in Phase 4, parents will have a choice to send their child to either in-person learning or virtual learning, which also applies to Phase 5.
Grades 6-12, however, will have the option to attend virtual learning while still being inside the school building.
Should Michigan move back into earlier phases after in-person learning has begun, virtual learning would become the plan until further notice. The virtual plan will also be on standby in case schools aren’t able to open on time.
However, school employees and contractors are permitted to be physically present in school buildings for the purposes of conducting basic school operations, including remote live instruction, as determined by school administrators.
Officials said that for in-person learning, the plan will follow all health guidelines as outlined in Governor Whitmer’s “MI Safe Start Plan:”
- Personal Protective Equipment (Face Coverings, Gloves)
- Handwashing and sanitizing stations
- Staff and Student Instructional Protocols
- Cleaning and Disinfecting
- Screening
- COVID-19 Positive and Contact Protocols
- Food Service Protocols
Should the area be in Phase 4 or higher, students will have to follow a number of regulations while attending in-person learning, while several protective measures will be taken.
Masks and hygiene:
- Students wear masks Y5-12th (unless diagnosed medical condition, 504 or IEP outlines it) and during designated instructional times.
- Portage Public Schools Protocol for Mask Wearing
- Explicit teaching of masks, handwashing, and social distancing expectations
- Portable hand washing and/or hand sanitizing stations set up throughout school buildings.
In-person cleaning:
- Systematic cleaning and disinfecting schedule will be used during the school day. Frequently touched surfaces including light switches, doors, benches, bathrooms, will undergo cleaning at least every four hours with an EPA-approved disinfectant.
- Student work areas will be disinfected at least once a day and when students are transitioning to a different space.
- The traditional cleaning will take place each night, empty trash, sweep floors, etc.
- Sanitizing of food areas will occur between each meal service.
- A deep building clean/disinfecting will occur on each Friday.
Spacing and Movement:
- Each building will have laid out traffic flow which will include entrance and exits. Hallway access will be limited with one way traffic flow where appropriate.
- Y5-5th will be grouped as much as possible, minimal movement between rooms, scheduled time outdoors with class.
- Elementary and Secondary classes/groups are spaced out to the extent possible.
Ultimately, the plan was passed by the board, with the only dissenting vote coming from Board Trustee Joanne Willson, who was more in favor of an all-virtual opening to start. She was also concerned about being able to maintain social distancing standards.
Officials also added that there are about 1,400 families who have yet to respond with which plan their children will be using.
The full plan, along with all regulations and precautions in place, can be viewed at the Portage Public Schools website at this link.
