Returning to in-person classes in September brought changes to Lansing School District classrooms in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools. District officials say those efforts largely are working, although they haven’t eliminated COVID-19 cases among students and staff.
Twenty months have passed since the Lansing School District first shut down its school buildings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We put in a lot of work to make these schools ready,” Lansing schools Superintendent Benjamin Shuldiner said in an interview. “We bought millions in air cleaners, bought ultraviolet lights for cleaning and bought tons of masks.”
Only one school in the Lansing School District had to shut down due to a COVID-19 outbreak this school year. J.W. Sexton High School closed for two days in late October after members of the football teams tested positive for COVID-19, which left around 200 students potentially exposed, Shuldiner said.
The thing that is keeping schools from shutting down is the pod system the district is using for classes Shuldiner said.
Students are put into pods, or small groups, when they go to class, and if any of those students become exposed or test positive, only that small group must stay home instead of a whole class. This method is keeping students in the classroom and keeping schools open, Shuldiner said.
Shuldiner said he’s also proud the district and the teacher’s union came agreed to a plan to encourage the COVID-19 vaccine among staff. An agreement was signed Oct. 30 between the teachers, administrators and secretaries’ unions and the district allows staff members who get vaccinated to avoid mandatory daily testing.
“We were one of the first districts in the state to pull this off and I am very proud of that,” Shuldiner said. “We saw them doing it in New York City and Boston and asked, ‘Why can’t we do that here?’
“It took a while to get it into place because we wanted to be really thoughtful and a partner to the unions because our workers are our lifeblood and we know that,” Shuldiner said. “You don’t ever want to force something on them when you could have worked together.”
Heather Morgan has a child who goes to Gier Park Elementary School and said she is happy to see the staff getting protected.
“I’m glad to hear the staff is getting vaccinated,” Morgan said. “I’m sure most of them already have but it makes me feel safe to send my child there because it’s just another barrier of protection against the virus.”
Morgan said she is happy with what the district has done so far this year to keep her kid safe.
“I was still weary of sending my child back to school,” Morgan said. “But the school and the district have done a lot of great things that make me feel safe sending my child to their schools.”
The Lansing School District was one of a few districts in the state that stayed virtual all last year. Although it made things difficult for some parents, parents like Angela Simpson believe the decision was probably for the best.
“It was a struggle trying to get my kids to do class,” said Simpson, who has a child in third grade and one in first grade. “It was hard balancing the school and my work, but I do think it was the best decision for the kids, teachers and parents.
“I’m just glad that my kids are back in the classroom. The schools and the district are doing their best to keep all of our kids safe and I am proud of their work.”
Shuldiner said there wasn’t one specific thing that has been the biggest challenge to the district, but multiple things.
“The whole pandemic has been a stress test to the district,” Shuldiner said. “We have the bus shortage, staff shortage and the responsibility of keeping children safe. It’s Covid. It’s ever-changing and we just have to adapt.”