PCCS : Update: COVID Protocols For Students / Families In P-CCS Summer Programs

Press release from Plymouth-Canton Community Schools:

07/08/2021 10:38 AM

P-CCS Summer Program Families & Students:

I hope you have all had a safe and healthy start to the summer! We appreciate all of the hard work that our students are putting into our summer learning this summer, and reports from all levels support that the programs are off to a fantastic start. The purpose of this communication is to share an update regarding COVID protocols for our summer programming, including new information regarding masks.

Following the lifting of pandemic restrictions by Governor Whitmer last month, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHSS) released updated guidance for schools in the form of several recommendations. Given this information, and the current low rates of positive COVID-19 cases in our local community, we are announcing a modification of our face mask protocol in our summer programs. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, this decision is subject to change should there be a modification to local COVID data and/or public health mandates.

Effective July 12, 2021, P-CCS will modify our mask protocol as follows in our summer 2021 programs:

• Consistent with MDHHS and CDC recommendations, wearing of masks indoors will continue to be strongly encouraged, particularly for unvaccinated students, however, they will not be required unless school and community infection risks dictate a change in accordance with the district’s mitigation strategies. This decision will be at the discretion of the parent or legal guardian. P-CCS will continue to make face masks available to students in need of a mask.  

• Staff members are also strongly encouraged to wear a mask indoors when physical distancing can’t be maintained, however, they will not be required unless school and community infection risks dictate a change in accordance with the district’s mitigation strategies. 

• Masks are strongly encouraged on school buses / district transportation (applies to any summer field trips) and may be required based on school and community infection risk in accordance with the district’s current mitigation strategies.

• All athletic programs will continue to follow MHSAA guidelines.

• Masks are not required outdoors for staff, students or visitors. Any person who wishes to wear a face mask outdoors may continue to do so. 

• You can view our 2021 Summer COVID-19 Mitigation Strategy document here. This is a live document that may be updated during the summer should more information become available. 

For your awareness, MDHHS also references a recommendation that schools consider weekly COVID testing as a potential mitigation measure. The only COVID testing conducted by P-CCS during the 2020-21 school year was for student-athletes wanting to compete in their sport, consistent with MHSAA and MDHHS requirements, which have since been rescinded.  Please note that P-CCS does not plan on initiating any mandatory COVID testing of students or staff in our Summer Programs. 

The following mitigation measures remain in place for our Summer Programs:

• Daily Symptom Checking: Families will continue to perform at-home self-monitoring reporting using the COVID-19 Screening Tool for Families. This continues to be a critical component of mitigating the spread of COVID-19 - please do not send students to school when they are sick.

• Three feet of distancing: Where possible, we will try to maximize distance between student stationary seating without impacting instruction in the event there continues to be a need to distance for both transmission and quarantine purposes.  This safety measure will be structured to ensure the least impact on the typical school experience.

• Hand Sanitation Stations and Cleaning Protocols; Availability of PPE: Hand washing and sanitizing will continue to be encouraged and easily accessible for all students and staff.  Additionally, the district will maintain enhanced cleaning and high touch disinfection strategies.  Masks will continue to be available for students and staff as needed.

• Contact Tracing: P-CCS contact tracing support for the Wayne County Health Department occurs seven days per week and begins upon notification of a positive test of a student, staff member or any other individual within our schools.

• Quarantines, where applicable, will still be enforced subject to Health Department guidance: All close contacts (currently defined by the Wayne County Health Department as a person who was within 6 feet of an infected person for 15 cumulative minutes or greater in a 24 hour period) will follow exclusion protocols as defined by the WCHD here.

We appreciate your continued support as we navigate the summer months, and we will keep you posted with more updates and information as we get closer to the 2021-22 school year. In the meantime, make sure to take care of yourselves and enjoy the rest of the summer!

Monica L. Merritt
P-CCS Superintendent of Schools

This press release was produced by Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.