Michigan's K-12 schools must put in place an extensive safety plan before they reopen in the fall to in-person instruction, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Tuesday in presenting a 63-page report.
The safety protocols vary based on the status of the coronavirus pandemic in a geographic area at the time.
"These requirements and recommendations will not always be easy to implement, but they're absolutely necessary," Whitmer said at a news conference. "These measures are designed to increase the likelihood of keeping Michigan schools open."
The plan recommends, but does not mandate, social distancing. That means that with proper safety protocols in place, kids can ride buses and be in school five days a week.
Before the governor's announcement, some districts had planned to reduce class sizes by having half the kids stay at home and learn online while the other kids were in their seats at school. It's not clear they'll follow through on those plans now that the governor has offered leeway.
Large groups of students will still be prevented from congregating in places like cafeterias.
"We had to pay attention to what are the constraints of our school districts," said Skillman Foundation CEO Tonya Allen, who chaired the governor's task force. "As you can imagine, there are constraints in classrooms and there are constraints in public areas inside of those facilities. We wanted to make sure that we recommend that schools use a 6-foot distance, but it is not mandated."
Whitmer said the state would provide $256 million in new school funding to help offset the costs of COVID-19 relief.
Strict safety measures might be mandated in densely populated areas like metro Detroit, while they will be merely recommended in places where the virus is less active, like the Upper Peninsula. The status of a geographic area is subject to change as the virus becomes more or less active.
The plan, entitled the MI Safe Schools Return to School Roadmap, restricts all in-person instruction when cases are very high. As the bulk of the state stands today, there are a number of restrictions that would have to be put in place. Those include:
- Staff and teachers would have to wear face masks at all times.
- All students would have to wear face masks in hallways and common areas and on buses. Every student would have to use hand sanitizer before getting on the bus.
- Students in grade 6 through 12 would have to wear face masks at all times; younger students wouldn't have to wear face masks in classrooms.
- It would be recommended that desks be placed 6 feet apart and students and teachers social distance, even in the classroom.
- Schools would have to work with local health departments on screening protocols.
- No indoor assemblies with students from more than one classroom would be allowed.
- It would be recommended that most meals be served in the classroom or outdoors. It would be recommended that meal times would be staggered to allow social distancing in the cafeteria if it was being used.
- Athletics would have to follow the MHSAA guidance and rules. Spectators would be allowed if they are wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing.
As the number of cases decrease and Whitmer opens up the state more, schools have to ratchet down from requirements to strong recommendations to merely recommendations.
“This is a thoughtful set of parameters under which we can return safely and realistically to school in the fall," said Michael Rice, state superintendent of instruction. "If we follow our health protocols, both inside school and out, we have the opportunity to stay in school longer next school year than if we assume that the pandemic has run its course. It hasn’t.”
Some students were glad to hear they will likely return to school full time.
"Personally, I feel really confident going back, as long as you know, everyone comes to school with the knowledge that they're not sick and that we can stay safe," said Chloe Bowyer, 16, who will be a senior at West Bloomfield High School. "Educating yourself at home is really hard. I think that if we can be careful about what we do, I think having sports and activities is important. It's really an important part of the high school experience and some people rely on that for scholarships."
Bowyer said she misses school far more than she thought she would and she's eager to return.
More: Whitmer forms panel to figure out way to reopen school in fall
More: Gov. Whitmer says schools will reopen this fall for in-person learning
In addition to the road map, Whitmer also signed an executive order mandating schools put a response plan in place.
“Our students, parents, and educators have made incredible sacrifices during our battle with COVID-19,” Whitmer said in a statement. “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."
In May, Whitmer appointed a 20-person Return to Learning Advisory Council to develop best practices for schools returning amid the pandemic.
The group included a student as well as front-line educators, administrators and public health officials.
Allen said Tuesday that everyone has a role to play in the plan.
"We, the parents, can commit to check our children's temperatures daily and keep them home if they are symptomatic," she said. "We, the citizens, can support our local school boards and administrators by abiding by their rules and offering grace in very difficult times. If we all pull together, our children and educators will be safe. If we all pull together, our schools and schoolchildren will thrive and be strong."
Allen said the task force considered a variety of measures to improve safety for kids. It considered a 6-foot social distance mandate, but after considering the size limitations in some schools, that group decided to recommend it, but not mandate it.
"We decided that of all of the mitigation strategies, the most powerful one was a mask," Allen said.
Paula Herbert, president of the Michigan Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union, said the plan is a good one, but it's not a return to normal.
"It will not be perfect, there will be curves in the road ahead," she said. "But we owe our students and the educators who serve them the greatest measure of clarity and consistency we can manage in an unprecedented situation."
Money worries
Educators were glad to hear Whitmer and state legislators had agreed on the $256 million to help cover costs. But more money, maybe from the federal government, will be needed.
"What was announced ... pretty much will take care of the hole for this year," said Randy Liepa, superintendent of the Wayne County Regional Education Services Agency. "The problem is, we still don't have a budget for next year."
For schools in Michigan, the new budget year begins Wednesday. The School Aid Fund includes money from income and sales tax collections, both of which plunged during the COVID-19 shutdowns.
"We're looking at six figures alone in our district just for (person protective equipment), and then you start looking at the requirements in terms of spacing and that sort of thing, it's incredibly expensive," said Kenneth Gutman, superintendent of Walled Lake Consolidate School District.
Gutman said he's heard from some parents who aren't yet comfortable returning their children to classrooms. Others are more confident. Either way, he said it's too early to know exactly what school will look like in the fall, because the virus remains unpredictable.
"I really hope we can get our kids and our staff back safely," he said. "But I'm not placing bets in the week of July 4."
Contact John Wisely: 313-222-6825 or jwisely@freepress.com. On Twitter @jwisely. Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj.
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