Detroit School District Reopening Learning Centers On Feb. 24

DETROIT — Students in the Detroit Public Schools Community District will have the option to be in classrooms beginning Feb. 24, the district announced Monday.

The district will begin transitioning back to in-person learning by reopening its Learning Centers at all schools and grade levels on Feb. 24, a decision officials said is predicated on the city’s positive infection rate remaining at the current 5 percent level or below.

“Through our home visits and outreach to families and students, we know too many families and students are struggling with schools closed," District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said. "The challenges range from childcare for working families, access to food, and the need for direct support with learning."

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The reopening of Learning Centers will provide direct support to district families who need schools to be open in some capacity so their children can benefit from supervised in person support, officials said in a statement Monday. Students can attend school daily, eat breakfast and lunch, login to online learning instruction and receive direct support from school personnel, officials said.

The Learning Centers will be supported by district and school-based administrators, clerical staff, paraeducators, educational aides, culture facilitators and substitute teachers. This was the same operational model used by the district before positive rates increased in mid-November and the suspension of in person learning, according to the district.

“Our survey data among families demonstrate a near doubling of the demand for in person learning since the late fall to 40-50 percent," Vitti said. "We will always use data and science to protect our students and employees in this pandemic. With the positive infection rate in the city now at a consistent 5 percent we can begin the process of providing families with what they need through the reopening of Learning Centers. At the same time, we will continue to respect our families’ decision to keep their students’ home for online learning.”

District officials said that over the past two weeks, the seven-day positive rate has remained near 5 percent, with daily rates falling below 5 percent. Officials said they have been committed to resuming in person learning with teachers once the city’s positive infection rate is solidly below 5 percent. At that time teachers will have the option to return to the classroom, and officials said the number of teachers willing to return to the classroom has increased since last fall. When returning to the classroom, teachers will receive $750 in hazard pay every nine weeks, according to the district.

School employees will be required to retest for COVID before returning to work, and district officials said the district will provide free testing at schools through Henry Ford Hospital and Wayne State University at no cost to employees.