Day 10: COVID-19 closes Michigan schools until Labor Day

For some reason, I can’t fix the original publishing date of this post of April 2, 2020.

School’s out

By Emma Palova

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced this morning that Michigan public schools will not re-open until Labor Day as the number of coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise in the state and nationwide.

“The number of challenges is long, but the school districts have been planning for it,” she said.

It will be up to the 900 school districts and 56 ISDs to do the heavy lifting associated with remote learning outside the brick and mortar structures.

The public schools closure impacts 1.5 million Michigan students in k-12 grades.

The parents reacted with mixed feelings on Thursday.

“It’s a shock,” said Jakub Pala, father of two in the Hastings Public Schools system. “It’s bittersweet. It’s a disappointment for the kids.”

On one hand, the parents get to spend more quality time with their children, but on the other hand the kids are deprived of social activities.

“I feel sad, Domik was supposed to graduate,” Maranda said.

The adjustment to the new way life requires creativity and outside the box thinking from the parents and the teachers.

“We are doing stuff outside, enjoying this nice weather,” Maranda said.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Maranda had to put on hold her kids’ entertainment business “Little Dreamers Sleepovers.”

Follow Maranda on https://littledreamerssleepovers.com/

She’s hoping for the business to rebound in the summer.

The districts will provide resources to the families such as chrome books and hot spots for the Internet, according to John Hemboldt, Grand Rapids Public Schools, superintendent.

“This is a public health crisis,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive. “Do not leave your house unless you absolutely must.”

Michigan is on the upslope of the coronavirus crisis with 1,000 cases a day, according to Khaldun.

“We must do very well with social distancing,” she said. “No one is immune. It’s an executive order; stay home, stay safe.”

Other parents, today, took their children fishing; the mom was wearing a mask and blue latex gloves.

Many took to the trails with their bikes.

Stay tuned for continued day by day coverage of the COVID-19 crisis in Michigan.

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