On June 30, Governor Whitmer unveiled the Return to School Roadmap. This 63-page document includes requirements and recommendations for schools based on the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic at any point in time. As expected, guidelines and procedures will vary as the phase we find ourselves in varies. Even though we don’t know what the virus will look like in September (or any month), we can still be prepared for it. Indeed that remains our message and commitment to you. We are preparing for all the phases detailed in the roadmap as we continue to prepare students for lives well-lived.
It is clear that if we are in phases one through three of community spread, we will move to distance learning. If we are in phases five or six, we will have more latitude to determine how the recommended practices apply to our particular situation. Phase four, where new virus cases have fallen but overall case levels remain high, will be the most difficult to navigate, but we will continue to work with guidelines from the CDC and Kent County Health Department.