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Some school districts move activities indoors due to air quality alert

Creative Commons

Some schools in Michigan are moving activities like recess and field day inside today. That's in response to poor air quality as wildfire smoke continues to spread from Canada.

Jon Dean is the superintendent for the Grosse Pointe Public School System. He says his district's schools were quick to move activities indoors.

"Schools are used to making quick decisions. You know, we have to do it all the time for snow days or ice days. So, we're used to making those decisions. Many school activities can be shifted indoors if necessary. And of course, we can always delay things if necessary. But we are always going to keep kids safe first." said Dean.

Dean expects local air quality to improve next week so students can enjoy end-of-year activities outdoors. But in the case of continuing air quality concerns, Dean says most summer programs are held indoors anyway.

Priya Vijayakumar started her Newsroom Internship in January 2023. She is interested in science/health reporting and making the facts more accessible to all! Priya studied mechanical engineering and journalism at UC Berkeley, where she reported for KALX 90.7FM. When not at the radio station, she works as a research assistant for Michigan Medicine (or can be found pestering her tuxedo cat named Poe).