GRAND LEDGE – Staggered schedules, prohibiting parent visitors, regimented recesses, and outdoor tent lunches are among the ways the Grand Ledge Public Schools are managing the return to in-person schooling this spring.
With the recent physical opening of Grand Ledge School District on March 1, the district was in the “yellow phase” that allows families to opt in their students for in-person learning, but they will be split up into cohorts (A-K attending Monday and Wednesday; L-Z Tuesdays and Thursdays) by last name going only two days a week.
When the students returned from their week-long spring break that started on March 27 to April 4, the Grand Ledge School District worked toward a new phase as all the schools adjusted their schedules accordingly. For the final trimester of the year the families were allowed again to select in person learning for the remainder of the year.
Each building runs on a different schedule. The K-6 students that have opted to in person go to school 10:15 a.m.-3:15 p.m. including specials, lunch and recess. The middle school (7th and 8th) attend school without cohorts four days a week Monday-Thursday. The schedule is from 7:40 a.m. to 1 p.m. with 45-minute in person classes (1st-6th hour). The high school students (9th-12th) still remain in cohorts by last name attending Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. The schedule is from 7:55 a.m.-2:45 p.m. (1st-5th hour). On Fridays all students remain virtual.
Throughout Michigan, K-12 schools have been on high alert daily for the status of the coronavirus in their county. Schools have worked to maintain a safe environment while also providing a quality education in a face-to-face setting.
Many counties have strategically looked at the data and made decisions based on the number of coronavirus outbreaks.
The Barry-Eaton District Health Department serves all schools within the Barry and Eaton county lines such as Grand Ledge, Charlotte, and Eaton Rapids. Currently Eaton County has confirmed around 7,220 positive COVID-19 cases and 767 active cases. In Barry County there are 4,028 positive cases and about 286 active in the area.
The health department has meetings with each of the school’s superintendents weekly but also contact with the schools on a daily level for contact tracing.
“This really helps to foster a good relationship between our school districts and the health department,” said Community Health Promotion Specialist Sara Surna.
In the incident of an outbreak the department has worked collectively with individual schools to determine if switching to virtual learning is appropriate for that district.
“We wouldn’t necessarily rule out that kind of ‘blanket’ announcement like Ingham did but at this time, our current plans are to work with districts individually,” said Surna.
When the district health department keeps track of contact tracing it involves a lot of factors. Starting with a person who is exposed to COVID-19, gets tested for COVID-19, and if the test comes back positive the company that does the testing has to report it to the local county health department.
Along with this result there is an interview with questions based on tracing the line of exposure. This questionnaire includes the places they have been, current symptoms, risk factors, hospital visits, and contacts with individuals.
One of the Grand Ledge elementary schools Willow Ridge, has a unique departure from school.
Parent of two Willow Ridge students, Bethany Thelen, said, “No parents are allowed in the building.” Parents have to put the names of the student being picked up in the windshield of the vehicle and then the name of the student is called on the loudspeaker to get to the vehicle. Each grade exits the building out a different door.
Recess is no walk in the park either. Each grade is stationed to a different part of the playground and cannot intermingle or cross stations, which varies by day. Stations include the blacktop, jungle gym, outfield, and swings.
The middle school, Hayes, has found a fun way to transition its previous “one lunch” schedule to two lunches so students can safely spread out in the cafeteria.
“We have a party tent out back,” said Hayes Middle School Principal David Kushman. The middle school made not only an indoor cafeteria but also an outdoor setting to host more students at one time.
Madison Stoddard
There are two blue and yellow tents located right outside the cafeteria doors to host more students at one time while social distancing. Each student has the same designated seat for the remainder of the year to track contact tracing.Grand Ledge High School installed extra sanitizing stations and removed all the doors from the restrooms to keep students from touching high-traffic surfaces. The United States Department of Agriculture allows free boxed lunches, for a safe contactless lunch, regardless of income.
Not all of it has been ideal for the students or parents in the Grand Ledge community but it has been a positive experience for students to get back in the building.
A parent of a middle schooler Trish Mance, is happy that her child is enjoying her time back in the classroom. “I have actually seen a positive change in her overall mood,” said Mance. “Our kids need their friends, their teachers, and their coaches.”
Another parent of a high school junior saw the academic performance change in her students learning after the return.
“There were too many distractions and he did not commit himself as he normally did,” said Marisol Smith. “The ability to concentrate is better in the classroom.”