Gov. says school districts will have full support of state while returning to in-person learning ⋆

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday doubled down on her call for school districts currently utilizing virtual learning to return to in-person instruction.

During her State of the State address Wednesday night, Whitmer said, “I want to be crystal clear. Students belong in school. We know it’s where they learn best.”

During a press conference in Flint on Thursday, Whitmer reiterated the call, but acknowledged some of the challenges districts may face in returning to in-person instruction.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her fourth State of the State speech, Jan. 26, 2022 | Screenshot

“I really was very clear last night that I want our kids to be in person, back in school,” Whitmer said. “To do that, though, we’ve got to get resources to our schools so that they can stay safe in the process and meet the needs of students.”

Whitmer first clarified her State of the State remarks in an interview on WDET-FM on Thursday morning.

During the interview, Whitmer noted that “98% of our districts in Michigan are in person right now. We’ve got some big ones that are not. I want to work with those districts to help support them so that they can get kids back in school.”

Flint and Detroit are two of those districts that are currently meeting virtually due to the rate of COVID-19 transmission.

Whitmer said that she spoke to Flint Community Schools Superintendent Kevelin Jones on her way into the city Thursday.

“I committed to the superintendent that they will have the support of the state health department as they navigate how to address concerns about keeping students safe,” Whitmer said. “We want to support any effort to make sure they get back into class as quickly as possible.”

Whitmer added that “you’ll get to see more in terms of what the dollar figures are and the priorities and what they look like … when we introduce the budget” next month.

“We’re going to make the largest state investment in public education in the history of our state,” she told WDET. “And I’m really excited about that. And this is how we give districts the tools they need to lower class size, to wrap the kids, the students, with support, whether it’s counselors, or it is social workers, to help kids get back on track.”

Whitmer said in Flint that one step districts can take is to set a date they are aiming to be back in person.

“There’s a number of components to safety and supporting our kids, getting them back in school,” Whitmer said. “Announcing a date when the goal is, I think, would go a long way toward conveying to people that the community is focused on meeting the needs of our students.”

Flint had planned to return to in-person learning Monday, but opted to remain virtual indefinitely due to the rate of COVID-19 transmission in Genesee County.

“I know that our leaders are all grappling with how do we keep our scholars safe, and I know that’s the primary concern,” Whitmer said in Flint on Thursday.

House Education Committee Pamela Hornberger (R-Chesterfield) said in a statement Thursday that the governor is not doing enough to reopen districts that are virtual.

“What is happening to thousands of students and their families in Michigan today is criminal. At best, it’s willful neglect and the governor is complicit,” Hornberger said.

Under bipartisan legislation passed by the Republican-led Legislature and signed by the Democratic governor in August 2020, local school districts have control over the decision to hold in-person, virtual or hybrid instruction.

“In her own State of the State address, the governor admitted that remote learning is not conducive to educating our young people,” Hornberger said. “It’s time for all students to get back to the classroom. I call on the governor to join with me, the chair of the House Education Committee, and members of the Michigan Legislature in demanding the return to in-person learning for all school districts that are refusing to do so.”

Hornberger specifically pointed to Detroit, where public schools are continuing to meet virtually.

House Education Committee Chair Pam Hornberger, Sept. 21, 2021 | Screenshot

“We have nearly 50,000 students in Detroit that have been out of school for 42 plus days. At the same time, we have nearly 50,000 charter school students attending school in-person in Detroit,” Hornberger said. “Many of these open charter schools are right down the street from the empty DPSCD schools. DPSCD is shirking their moral obligation to educate thousands of children, many of whom are special needs, and some of the poorest students and families in Michigan.”

Detroit Public Schools have set a target of returning to in-person classes on Monday, Jan. 31, with employees and students being required to consent to COVID-19 testing.

Robert McCann, executive director of the K-12 Alliance of Michigan, said in a tweet that state leaders should focus on passing policies that would make a return to in-person learning safe for students and staff, rather than simply encouraging or demanding the return.

“It’s not about encouraging/forcing. 99% of schools are already open because that’s where students learn best. If they’re closing, it’s because COVID or staff shortages force it temporarily. What SHOULD be focused on are policies that would help alleviate those temporary issues,” McCann tweeted.

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authored by Andrew Roth
First published at https%3A%2F%2Fmichiganadvance.com%2F2022%2F01%2F27%2Fgov-says-school-districts-will-have-full-support-of-state-while-returning-to-in-person-learning%2F