From the WOOD RADIO NEWSROOM
Dr. Leadriane Roby, Superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools, Kristian Grant, President of the Grand Rapids Board of Education, and Mary Bouwense, President of the Grand Rapids Education Association issued a joint statement regarding the decision to remain 100% virtual until the start of the second semester:
“Since the start of school, we have been monitoring the data and seeking guidance and direction from the state and county health authorities as we prepared for the implementation of our hybrid in-person instruction which was slated to start on October 26.
GRPS officials said on Friday, October 16, the Kent County Health Department issued a public health bulletin announcing that the positivity rate for the county is up to 4.5% which is “a significant increase from previous weeks”.
The health department stated that as a county, we are exceeding 150 cases per million and local hospitals are at capacity with both COVID and non-COVID patients.
In the public health bulletin, the Kent County Health Department included the Michigan Association for Local Public Heath’s guidance for schools which states “virtual school should be considered for all districts”.
Administration officials said they decided to continue with 100% virtual instruction for the remainder of the first semester (until January 4) based on that information.
GRPS leaders said all along that the science and data will drive our decision making. The reality is the data is headed in the wrong direction for Kent County and the back and forth with potential closings will be more disruptive than just staying virtual now.