West Central Michigan News

A state representative touted a bipartisan agreement between the Michigan Legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to halt in-person learning for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic as “a flexible fix that will allow for kids to continue to learn and develop.”

Rep. Jack O’Malley (R-Lake Ann) said in a statement on Michigan House Republicans that online and distance learning will be prioritized to continue pivotal development for students throughout the state.

“The governor is doing her best to keep the people of Michigan safe during a pandemic,” O’Malley told Michigan House Republicans. “This decision was not made hastily, but with input from medical experts and in the best interest of our kids and their families… The measures that were agreed on will create a best-case scenario with the hand we’ve been dealt.”

All public and private school buildings statewide are closed for the rest of the academic year, unless the situation improves and restrictions are scaled back, the statement adds. Whitmer’s order forgives 15 days of instruction beyond the nine snow days currently permitted under state law and requires all districts to use resources from waived days to ensure all hourly and contracted employees are compensated.

WKAR reported that the state’s educators are working to ensure learning continuity. The Michigan Virtual Learning Continuity Work Group was formed to assist teachers in the creation of new strategies that reflect the "new normal."

“As a group, we’ve committed to processing through what are the challenges that people are experiencing, and then how can we produce resources to try to solve those problems,” cochair David Richards told WKAR.

Districts are required to implement new learning strategies by Apr. 28. O’Malley said local communities and educators “are with their students every step of the way.”