LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer is unveiling her plan on how Michigan’s schools will return to the classroom this fall, but there are many scenarios and moving parts to determine what specific plan will be used months from now.
On Tuesday, the governor released the “MI Safe Schools Return to School Roadmap,” which outlines a number of safety protocols for schools to implement in each phase of the “MI Safe Start Plan.“
School districts will be required to adopt a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan that details how they will protect students and educators in different reopening situations. The 63 page roadmap outlines protocols like guidance on the use of personal protective equipment in schools, good hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting, spacing in classrooms, screening for symptoms, and the future for athletics.
The specifics differ based on what phase the state is in. For example, if Michigan is in phase one, two or three, schools would have to use a remote learning plan with no in-person instruction, phase four would be an in-person plan with strict safety protocols in place, and phase five would have a more flexible plan for schools with minimal safety protocols.
One of the biggest requirements will be face masks. In phase four all staff, teachers, and students in grades 6-12 will have to wear face coverings except during meals. That includes on the school bus, when in indoor hallways and common areas, and in classrooms. Students pre-kindergarten through fifth grade will just have to wear masks in the halls and on buses.
In a written statement, Governor Whitmer said, “Our students, parents, and educators have made incredible sacrifices during our battle with COVID-19. Thanks to our aggressive action against this virus, the teachers who have found creative ways to reach their students, and the heroes on the front lines, I am optimistic that we will return to in-person learning in the fall. The MI SafeSchools Return to School Roadmap will help provide schools with the guidance they need as they enact strict safety measures to continue protecting educators, students, and their families. I will continue working closely with the Return to Learn Advisory Council and experts in epidemiology and public health to ensure we get this right, but we also need more flexibility and financial support from the federal government. This crisis has had serious implications on our budget, and we need federal support if we’re going to get this right for our kids.”
The full MI Safe Schools Return to School Roadmap can be found here.
