Schools announce continuation plans.

Schools announce continuation plans.

Following an order from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to suspend high school face-to-face learning for three weeks, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 18, Mason County Central and Mason County Eastern schools have announced that face-to-face learning will continue for grades kindergarten through eight. Gateway to Success Academy will continue its middle school face-to-face program.

Ludington Area School District is currently in a self-imposed suspension of face-to-face learning for the entire district due to recent COVID-19 cases. According to a Nov. 15 letter from LASD Superintendent Jason Kennedy, the district will be making decisions about grades preschool through eight during the upcoming week.

Gateway to Success is also allowing face-to-face instruction for high school students who meet the exceptions described in the emergency orders, according to Superintendent Jamie Bandstra. The order states that gatherings at public, nonpublic, and boarding schools for the purpose of conducting in-person instruction, sports, and extracurricular activities serving pupils in grades 9 through 12 are prohibited, except for in-person instruction of pupils who are English Language Learners or participants in special education services. 

MCC Superintendent Jeff Mount said that keeping the school open to K-8 students is a good decision for the students.

“We have been quite healthy and the health department has shared that transmission in this age group is a low risk versus the positive rewards of staying open for our students, parents and community,” Mount said in a letter on the school’s website and app.

Extra-curricular activities at all the schools have also been suspended until Dec. 8.

Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals who support our service. Click on the PayPal donation button located on the top right of our website. 

This story is copyrighted © 2020, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.