Governor Gretchen Whitmer said Friday school districts should make plans to return to in-person learning at least part-time by March 1st. But the governor stressed this is a request, not an order.
The state’s chief medical officer, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, said a lot’s been learned about how to make classrooms safe. distancing, and ventilation.
“Things like appropriate spacing of desks, wearing masks, a co-horting of students, and adequate ventilation significantly decrease the risk of virus spread in schools, and it’s how many students across the state are already engaging in in-person learning.”
Also, Whitmer said, most teachers and school workers should be vaccinated by March 1st against COVID-19. So, the governor said it’s time to take the next steps, even if it’s just for one or two days a week to start.
“I strongly encourage school districts to provide as much face-to-face learning as possible,” she said during an online news conference, “especially for our youngest students, especially for economically disadvantaged students, and students with special education needs, and English language learners.
But Whitmer said this is not an order because it’s got to be a local decision based on local circumstances with buy-in from teachers and school staff, administrators, and families. She also said school officials don’t have to wait until March to re-open classrooms.
Paula Herbart is with the Michigan Education Association. The teachers union president said that’s the right approach.
“We’re talking about local areas making local decisions for their local communities and having educators’ voices be part of those conversations,” she said.