District readies for students’ return
Goal to first move back to hybrid learning by Feb. 1
Royal Oak school board members on Thursday will review and discuss a plan to return to in-person learning next month.
School Superintendent Mary Beth Fitzpatrick in a letter to school families said administrators have been reviewing plans from the fall when they first considered returning to classrooms along with remote learning.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week said K-12 students should return to classes, setting a goal of March 1 for all school districts to offer some in-class learning. The move includes mandatory and suggested safety measures against the spread of COVID-19.
Whitmer’s decision will influence Royal Oak Schools plans to get back to in-person learning, Fitzpatrick said in her letter.
“Our work is focused on a return to in-person hybrid learning starting on Feb. 1,” she said.
Hybrid learning involves a mix of remote and in-class learning on alternate days for elementary, middle school and high school students whose families choose to take part. Students enrolled in the all-remote Virtual Acad
emy program can stay with that program through June, Fitzpatrick said.
The question of when to start having in-person learning in Royal Oak Schools has divided parents in the district and was an issue in the school board election in November, when three new board members and one incumbent were elected.
Details of how elementary, middle school and high school hybrid learning programs will roll out will be given to parents from principals at the schools.
Some special education students return to in-person instruction this week. School officials are also finalizing plans for adult education, alternative education and childcare programs.
While COVID-19 vaccine distribution has been implemented, demand for it continues to outstrip the availability, Fitzpatrick said.
“The vaccine remains optional for school personnel and those decisions remain between each (school) employee and their healthcare providers,” she said.
Fitzpatrick stressed families will have to sign an agreement to closely monitor their children’s health as part of a return to classrooms. Further, she urged families to keep children home if they feel unwell or show signs of COVID-19 so the district can keep buildings and classrooms open.
Safety protocols for the schools encompass mandatory face masks, frequent hand washing, hand sanitizer, desk partitions and social distancing.
Cleaning schedules at schools will include sanitizing frequently-touched surfaces such as door handles and fixtures in restrooms throughout the day. Spaces that are shared between different groups of students will be scheduled for cleaning before each new group uses the space.
Workers will do deep cleaning of school buildings in the evenings and on weekends.
“This district will continue to work closely with the Oakland County Health Division to determine the need to quarantine classrooms or buildings based on confirmed (COVID-19) cases,” Fitzpatrick said.
The school district will continue to report positive COVID-19 cases on the transparency page and implement notifications protocols with close contacts, she added.