School district returning to virtual learning
Clarkston Community Schools students have returned to virtual learning, effective Monday.
Three elementar y schools had already returned to distance learning after large numbers of staff were quarantined due to coronavirus outbreaks.
The district will remain in virtual learning at least until the conclusion of the Thanksgiving holiday on Nov. 30.
“Barring a remarkable rebound in virus trends, it is possible that we could stay in distance learning through the end of the first semester on Jan. 15,” Superintendent Shawn Ryan said in a letter dated Friday, Nov. 6.
Clarkston is joining a number of Oakland County districts that have returned to remote learning.
Most area districts started the 2020-21 academic year with all remote learning and gradually returned to in-person classes, starting in mid- October to early November.
The Oakland County Health Division recently reclassified schools as risk level E, the highest level, defined as either more than 150 cases per million or a 20% positivity rate. “The virus rates in our community continue to rise exponentially, and what we are experiencing as a district is a reflection of this,” Ryan said in the letter.
“We have 35 active positive cases in our school district and hundreds of staff and students in quarantine.
“It has been my intention to push to stay in school as long as possible, filling the gaps wherever possible with all hands on deck and intermittently closing buildings on a temporary basis as needed.
“We now have evidence that probable school transmission (student to student, student to staff, and staff to staff) has occurred in our district over the last week. We were informed of this late yesterday afternoon and were working with the Oakland County Health Division late into the evening last night and this morning.
“Up until this point, we had been able to say with confidence that our mitigation measures have effectively stopped the virus from spreading at school. I cannot say that today. The Oakland County Health Division is recommending a pause in face-to-face instruction at least through Thanksgiving to promote the health and well-being of all students and staff within Clarkston Community Schools.
“As your superintendent, my decisions for our district’s direction are centered on the health and well-being of our school community, and providing academic continuity for all learners in Clarkston.”
No student instruction will be provided on Monday, Nov. 9, but teachers will hold office hours, the letter said.
The district will return to the distance learning school schedules employed earlier this fall. Principals and teachers will communicate more information with parents about specific learning plans and pickup procedures for any necessary student materials.