Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is optimistic that Michigan schools will be able to reopen for in-person learning this fall.
But things might look a little different than a non-pandemic year.
On Tuesday, June 30, the governor’s Task Force on Education Return to School Advisory Council released a 63-page guide for schools on how to reopen safely for the upcoming school year. The “Return to School Roadmap” comes with different requirements depending on which phase a region is in of the six-phase MI Safe Start plan.
Some aspects of the plan are required for schools to reopen, while others are either “recommended” or “strongly recommended.”
The guide was created with input from public health experts, educators, school administrators, school board members, parents and students. Here are 10 of the highlights:
1. Wearing masks required for some students
If a region is in Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start plan, staff and students in grades 6-12 will be required to wear facial coverings in classrooms, during school transportation and in the hallways, with an exception in place for during meals. Students pre-K through fifth grade will not have to wear facial coverings if they remain with their class throughout the school day and if they do not come into close contact with students in another class. Facial coverings should still be considered for this age group.
Homemade masks are allowed but must be washed daily. Disposable coverings must be disposed of at the end of each day.
Exceptions for staff and students are noted in the plan for if an individual cannot medically tolerate a facial covering, or if they’re incapacitated or unable to remove the facial covering without assistance.
In Phase 5, mask wearing will move from “required” to “strongly recommended.”
2. Screening required
Schools must cooperate with the local public health department regarding implementing protocols for screening students and staff.
Parents are encouraged to check their child’s temperature at home every morning and students with a temperature of 100.4 or higher should stay home. Staff should conduct similar self-examination daily.
Schools should have a designated quarantine area and a staff member assigned to care for students who become ill at school. Those students should be given a surgical mask until they can be picked up. Symptomatic students sent home from school should not return until they have tested negative or have completely recovered, according to CDC guidelines.
Adult guests entering the building should also be screened for symptoms. They should wear a facial covering and wash their hands before entering.
3. Smaller, spaced-out classes strongly recommended
The reopening guide strongly recommends desks be spaced six feet apart in classrooms, and class sizes should be kept to the level afforded by necessary spacing requirements. In classrooms with large tables, students should be spaced out as far apart as feasible.
Teachers should maintain six feet between themselves and their students.
If all students cannot fit safely in a classroom, it’s recommended that schools consider implementing a staggered school schedule that incorporates alternative dates of attendance or use of virtual teaching.
4. Meal changes recommended
It’s recommended that classrooms or outdoor areas be used for students to eat meals, if possible. Students, teachers and food staff should wash their hands before and after every meal.
If cafeterias must be used, meal times should be staggered to create seating arrangements with six feet of distance between students. Serving and cafeteria staff should use barrier protection including gloves, face shields and surgical masks.
If possible, school-supplied meals should be delivered to classrooms with disposable utensils.
5. Busing changes required
Hand sanitizer must be supplied on the bus and those riding the bus must use hand sanitizer before entering. Everyone on the bus must wear a facial covering, if medically feasible.
Buses will be required to be cleaned and disinfected before and after every route.
If a student gets sick during the day, they will not be allowed to use group transportation to return home. Schools should implement a plan for getting sick students home safely.
6. Art, music, and library changes recommended
Art, music, library and other special activities during the school day should be brought to the classroom instead of students moving to different locations around the building. Libraries, computer labs, arts, and other hands-on classrooms must undergo cleaning after every class period. That also goes for student desks and playground structures.
7. Athletics and extracurricular activities changes required
All school athletics programs must follow guidance published by the Michigan High School Athletic Association and National Federation of State High School Associations. Gov. Whitmer said she also has asked the MHSAA to consider switching some sports between the fall and spring seasons to delay those that can’t include social distancing.
Participants must wash their hands before and after every practice, event or gathering, and every participant should confirm they are health and without symptoms prior to any event. Equipment must be disinfected before and after use. There should be no sharing of water bottles, and no handshakes, fist bumps or other “unnecessary contact.”
Spectators are allowed as long as they wear facial coverings and are able to maintain 6 feet of separation from others who live outside their home. If a region is in phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan, large scale outdoor events are limited to 100 people, and large-scale indoor spectator events are suspended. If a region is in phase 5 of the MI Safe Start Plan, outdoor events are limited to 250 people and indoor spectator events are limited to 50 people.
Extracurricular activities and after-school programs will be allowed to continue with the use of facial coverings.
8. Recess and gym class changes recommended
Recess should be conducted outside whenever possible with appropriate social distancing. If more than one class is outside at a time, students should wear facial coverings.
Physical education classes should be held outside and with social distancing requirements in place.
Indoor weight rooms and physical conditioning that require shared equipment are suspended if a region of the state is in phase 4. In phase 5, indoor weight rooms and physical conditioning activities are allowed, though social distancing should be maintained while indoors.
9. New rules for field trips and assemblies
Assemblies of more than 50 students are suspended. If possible, schools should consider offering telecasting of assemblies and other school-sanctioned events.
Off-site field trips that require bus transportation to an indoor location are also suspended in phase 4. If a region is in phase 5, field trips can occur as long as they comply with transportation guidelines within the roadmap, including mandatory facial coverings.
10. Schools must prepare for remote instruction
If a region of the state enters into phase 1-3 of the MI Safe Start Plan, in-person learning will not be permitted and schools will have to transition to remote instruction.
It’s recommended that schools revise their remote learning plans based on feedback and input from school leaders, educators, families and students, and should be distributed to all stakeholders in their home language.
If a region of the state is in phase 4 or 5, districts should still set expectations for schools and teachers to integrate high quality digital tools and resources that are appropriate and sustainable at each grade level, to increase teachers’ and students’ familiarity with online learning in case of a return to remote instruction.
For districts that plan to incorporate hybrid instruction, the reopening guide strongly recommends ensuring all students and families have adequate connectivity and the devices necessary to engage in and complete school work. They should also develop systems to monitor students’ online attendance on a daily basis, and ways for students and teachers to assess quality of work and learning progress.
The full Return to School Roadmap is available on that state’s website, here.
PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
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