COVID 19

Harbor Springs Public Schools leaves virtual learning behind

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Shay Elementary School and the Harbor Springs Public School District offices in Harbor Springs. Online learning is coming to an end for students and staff of Harbor Springs Public Schools. 

HSPS Superintendent Michael Behrmann said in an email there will not be any virtual learning opportunities offered by any of the schools in the district for the 2021-2022 school year. The district offered online and in-person classes through the 2020-2021 school year during the brunt of the pandemic. According to a graph on the district’s website, Harbor Springs Public Schools recorded a varying amount of positive cases since September of last year with a peak of 34 positive cases in April and a significant decrease to three positive cases in May. 

To some Harbor Springs parents and students, the decline in cases isn’t enough to ease their worries.  

Ally Warner, who’s son Cristyan and daughter Carrigan will be heading to 10th grade and eighth grade respectively, said she has concerns. Carrigan struggles with heart and lung disease, and Dysautonomia, a group of diseases that affects the nervous system.

East Lansing Public Schools

Okemos Schools survey shows most parents uncomfortable sending students back

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Okemos Public Schools devise plan

Okemos Public Schools, or OPS, drafted a “Safe Return to School Plan” that was presented Oct. 12 to the Board of Education. The board will take action on the plan on Oct. 26. 

The school district conducted a survey among parents, guardians and teachers about their comfortability reentering the classroom. Families respond to call for schools to open

According to the survey, only 29% of families would be very comfortable sending their child back to school during Phase four, while 53% of families would be very uncomfortable or uncomfortable sending their child back to school during Phase four of the MI Safe Start Plan Framework.

News

Toledo’s virtual schools face criticism

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Victoria BorodinovaSept. 8 marks the date for K-12 students at TPS to log on to their virtual classrooms, remote learning could be mandatory for as long as the entire first semester. TOLEDO — Creating an online educational option equal to an in-classroom environment is proving troublesome for Toledo Public Schools. “To say my things are upside down in my life is an understatement,” said Patricia Mazur, director of communications for TPS. “Virtual schools cannot fully resemble in-person schooling.”

Amidst the worsening COVID-19 pandemic, TPS has announced that “up to the entire first semester” will be taught 100% remotely, offering virtual “e-schooling” from grades K-12.

Education

Parents are on board with online public education, survey says

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By BROOKE KANSIER
Capital News Service
LANSING — Webcams and laptops might be replacing no. 2 pencils and spiral notebooks as the school supplies of choice in Michigan. According to a survey by online course provider Michigan Virtual University, 79 percent of Michigan adults believe online courses are a valuable tool for middle and high school students. The survey also outlined interest in the way teachers are trained for these courses, and how districts support them. Many of the state’s educators share these parents’ sense of online importance, offering a variety of online learning opportunities.

Education

New partnership, new online focus for student teachers

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By CELESTE BOTT
Capital News Service
LANSING – The University of Detroit Mercy is partnering with the Michigan Virtual University to help UDM education students learn to teach online. Both undergraduate and graduate students can enroll this summer in Advanced Instructional Technology/Teaching in the Virtual Environment. The program, which resembles a student teaching experience, is an introductory course focused on online instruction. Students will help teach a variety of subjects to high school students in virtual classrooms through the Michigan Virtual University. They will shadow online teachers at MVU while attending lecture-style classes at UDM.