District students to return to class March 1

Plan involves hybrid schedule

Royal Oak Schools officials are moving to have students return to classrooms March 1.

The decision came late Thursday at a school board meeting where Superintendent Mary Beth Fitzpatrick and board members discussed the issue.

Earlier in the week, Fitzpatrick said in a letter to parents the hope was to return to in-person teaching Feb. 1.

However, after reviewing the issue it was decided to delay the opening until March.

One of the reasons for the delay is to give educators a chance to get vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus.

“In waiting we’re hoping more people, who would like to, can get the vaccine,” Fitzpatrick said.

The district plans on returning to classes with a hybrid schedule that allows students to alternate between remote and in-class teaching each week. School officials said the hybrid teaching schedule allows the district to reduce the number of students in buildings by half on each school day.

Elementary schools will have alternating days with Fridays off when classes start up.

“We have some additional details regarding the middle school and the high school (return to classes) and it’s going to depend on a survey that’s going out Friday and next week to middle and high school families,” Fitzpatrick said. “The results of the survey will drive the master schedule” for classes.

School officials are looking for more certainty from parents on developing a high school for the exact schedule that meets their needs, she added.

The changing dynamics of the pandemic have stymied at least two previous attempts for students to return to at least some in-person learning.

“If I’ve learned anything since this all started last March, it’s that the best plans can shift,” Fitzpatrick said. “We have to keep mov

ing and school continues.”

Much of the information the superintendent gave board members Thursday was contained in the letter that was sent out to parents.

“I think there are more questions that need to be answered to see what the full high school plan will be,” said Board Trustee Lisa-Aline Hanes. “There is still the survey going out to parents on whether they want to remain with remote learning.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week said that K-12 students statewide 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.

“The school board is passionate in making sure we do what’s right for our students and teachers,” Hanes said. “We want to make sure everyone is safe.”

School officials acknowledged that no plan is perfect and there are different opinions among parents in

the district about students returning to school buildings.

“We’re hearing from parents that wanted their kids back (in classes) sooner and there are others that want kids to stay home until COVID-19 is gone,” Hanes said. “So, it’s difficult and I’m sure not everyone is happy.”

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.

The district is going to keep moving forward as everyone waits until the pandemic is resolved, Fitzpatrick said.

“Hopefully, the things we’ve learned from this will provide better opportunities for learning in the future,” she said.