Small group in-school learning also delayed
DEARBORN — Online learning in Dearborn Public Schools will continue until at least mid October after the Board of Education approved the extension during its regular meeting Sept. 14.
DPS started the new school year on Aug. 31 all online until at least Oct. 1. The board’s vote extends online learning at least until its next meeting on Oct. 12.
The district also is delaying the small group in-school learning labs it had planned to start next week.
Dearborn has had a high number of COVID-19 cases per capita in recent weeks, and the board felt it was not yet safe for the community to return students to in-school learning. Besides the total number of COVID cases, the district considers the number of cases per resident and metrics like the percent of COVID tests that come back positive in the county, called the positivity rate. The Wayne County positivity rate has risen to its highest point in months at more than 6 percent.
DPS has almost 21,000 students. About one-fifth of the students signed up to attend an online only virtual learning program for this school year. The rest will return to in-building learning once the board approves the reopening of schools.
At the Sept. 14 meeting, the board heard different options for possibly reopening with blended learning where half of the students will attend school at one time while the other half works online from home.
The board will take up the issue of reopening schools again at its Oct. 12 meeting. The public meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the Administrative Services Center, 18700 Audette. It will also be broadcast live on the district’s YouTube and cable channels. Community members will be able to submit comments online.
State law requires school districts to re-evaluate local COVID-19 conditions and reconsider in-school learning every month this year.
The extension of online learning also means that the weekly free student meal distributions will continue on Fridays through at least Oct. 9. Food will be available for pickup from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. each week at Dearborn, Edsel Ford and Fordson high schools; Bryant, Smith, Stout and Woodworth middle schools; Lowrey, McCollough-Unis and Salina Intermediate schools; Henry Ford, Maples, McDonald and Miller elementary schools; and the Dearborn Heights Campus.
For more details on food distribution or for the latest information about online schooling, go to www.dearbornschools.org.