COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater Community Schools Board of Education approved the districts Return to Learn Plan during a special meeting Thursday night.
As long as Branch County remains in Stage Four of the State of Michigan’s Reopening Plan, there would be a mixture of remote and in person learning for students. The district is also offering a fully virtual option but parents who choose that option for their youngsters must notify the district.
If Branch County is moved back to Stage Three by the state, all learning would be done remotely from home.
Complete details of the plan are on the district’s web site which is www.coldwaterschools.org.
13-year district music teacher Marguerite Grupke said a majority of survey results from teachers who said they were not comfortable or a little comfortable returning to face-to-face instruction were ignored by the district. She added teachers were not given a choice to work remotely even for one day a week.
Board member Steve Rutz asked parents that if their child is not feeling well, don’t send them to school. Rutz added he has gotten push back from parents who either feel there should be totally virtual learning or that their kids should go back to the classroom. He asked everybody to work together, be patient and move forward.
In other business, the district renewed the food services management company contract with Chartwells. Coldwater Superintendent Terry Ann Whelan said in a letter to parents earlier this week that the district will be providing free lunch for all students this year as part of the Michigan Department of Education’s Community Eligibility Provision. This is in addition to the free breakfasts that the district has provided for many years.
In addition, Whelan says virtual students attending the Cardinal Academy will be able to pick up five days of breakfast and lunches each week.
For students attending the hybrid program, they will be able to pick up three days of breakfast and lunches each week.
Pickup will take place at the Legg Middle School parking lot on Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.. Students need to be enrolled in either the Hybrid Program or Cardinal Academy to participate in the school food program due to Federal guidelines.
