Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
The students at Luther L. Wright K-12 School, seen here Friday, are expected to return to school April 6 after Ironwood and the other members of the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District announced they are moving their spring breaks so they fall within the mandated closure ordered by Gov. Grethen Whitmer.
By Daily Globe STAFF
Following Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's announcement Thursday ordering all schools in the state of Michigan to be closed from Monday through April 5 to help stop the spread of COVID-19, or the coronavirus, the six districts in the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District are rescheduling their planned spring breaks.
"The governor has stated that school districts that do not have spring breaks that occur during this mandatory closure, cancel their breaks and make them a part of the mandatory closure. Districts in the GOISD will follow this recommendation and the break that was scheduled for April 6-10 will be cancelled," Ironwood Superintendent Travis Powell wrote in a letter to parents posted on the district's Facebook page. "At this time, unless we received additional direction from the state, we expect that classes will resume in all districts on April 6. Individual districts will determine if classes will be in session on Good Friday and Easter Monday based on their district policies."
A Bessemer district official confirmed to the Daily Globe that the other districts in the GOISD are also moving their spring breaks in line with the schedule laid out by Ironwood.
In the letter, Powell also said the districts are agreeing to close their buildings to all activities, including sports practices, during the mandatory closure.
In Bessemer, this includes the cancellation of the planned parent-teacher conference and the postponement of kindergarten registration and drivers education classes.
Powell said Whitmer's order to close the schools is an unprecedented decision, and quoted the governor that it was necessary to "protect our kids, our families and our overall public health."
He said the districts in the GOISD have been working closely with the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department and other state and local officials to monitor the situation, as well as implementing the recommended cleaning and sanitization procedures for buildings.
Powell also reiterated the importance of practicing proper hygiene measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or other illnesses, such as the common cold and influenza.
These including washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer, avoiding touching the face, covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing, avoiding contact with those who are sick and staying home if you are ill.
The latest information on the coronavirus is available at michigan.gov/coronavirus or cdc.gov/cornoavirus.
