HANCOCK — The Hancock Public Schools Board on Monday approved the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan, which school administrators refer to as the “Return-to-Learn Roadmap.”

Initially, the first day of school for the 2020-21 school year was set for Sept. 1, but was changed to Sept. 8, Superintendent Steve Patchin said in an email to enable staff to properly prepare the schools for safe instruction.

The Upper Peninsula, stated Patchin, is currently in Phase 5, and that is the stage in which the the school plans to open.

The following are some highlights of what the educational options Hancock students will have available to them under Phase 5, Patchin’s email included. Bulldog education options will be:

1. Face-to-face instruction in grades K-12: This will take place in our buildings Monday thru Friday at the standard operating times. We will begin students’ schedules shortly and distribute them when completed.

2. For those Bulldogs not ready to return to face-to-face instruction, we will have synchronous and asynchronous options. You can move to face-to-face learning from this program with 2-weeks notice:

a. The synchronous option will be live streaming of your teacher(s) in the classroom, then completing the needed assignments.

b. The asynchronous option is will these lessons recorded so students can watch engage in the instruction at their convenience, then completing needed assignments.

3. Hancock Virtual School will be available for students who would like a total on-line experience. You can switch to face-to-face learning at the semester.

a. K – 5 students can take coursework online through the Accelerate Education platform.

b. Students in grades 6 – 12 can take coursework online through the Apex Learning Virtual School.

Students enrolled in any of these education options would still be students officially enrolled in Hancock Public Schools. As such, all students will be eligible to play sports for Hancock Public Schools as long as they meet current G.P.A. requirements.

Facial Coverings in Phase 5

• Faculty & Staff: all faculty and staff – All faculty and staff will wear facial coverings while inside the building. Exceptions include eating lunch or when they are alon(e) in their office or room.

• K-5 students: students will be taught in class cohorts, so facial coverings are recommended but not required while in their classrooms. Facial coverings will be worn in hallways during any transition times, but not while eating or outside at recess.

• Students in grades 6-12: facial coverings will be worn in classrooms and public spaces, but not outside or while eating. PE classes will be held outside where possible, and breaks outside will be arranged.

• Anyone riding the bus to and from school will wear a facial covering while in the bus.

Hygiene and our Facilities

• Hygiene will focus on proper and consistent hand-washing. Cleaning and sanitizing will focus on high touch areas during the day and deep cleaning each evening. Social distancing will continue to be a focus to mitigate any possible spread of the virus.

Athletics

• We continue our athletic programs. If MHSAA does discontinue competition seasons, we will continue our programs and practices. We will then search for partners in the Copper Country to scrimmage.

• What if we move to Phase 4?

• Facial coverings will be required for all students and staff in our buildings at all times, except when eating or drinking. Band and choir classes would be suspended. Sports would be suspended.

• What if we move to Phase 1, 2 or 3?

• We will then close our buildings and move to a blend of learning including virtual components and physical packets.

Educational Focus

The focal point will be creating a new normal focused on education:

– We have exciting new technology experiences coming into each of our buildings, while we launch our second year of Girls Who Code and the Coding Club at our Library.

– We continue our peer mentoring program and enter our second year as a Unified Champion School, we are excited about the new programs activities we will be planning for this.

– We will be launching our Civil Air Patrol Cadet program giving students the opportunity to fly a plane and glider, fly a drone, and take part in leadership development activities.

Administrators will host a parent Q & A session on Thursday, at 5p.m., in front of the high school with Building Leadership. Principals will be sending out emails to parents with FAQ’s as staff moves forward and work the details of the plan.

“On Friday, we will be sending out a questionnaire to each of you to indicate which Return to Learn option you would like to choose for yours students,” Patchin advised. “You will also be receiving a survey regarding use of school bus transportation to and from school.”

Patchin said the education team has lots of work in preparing the buildings for the students, but it will be worth the effort.

“It will be a true celebration to see our students back in our hallways talking,” he said, “in classrooms learning, and helping each other grow, explore, and discover…..together! Thanks for your patience and support,” he added. “The 2020-21 school year promises to be one the one where education leads the world back to a new sense of normalcy, safety, and growth.”

This Road Map was created using the State’s MI Safe Schools: Michigan’s 2020-21 Return to School Roadmap which can be viewed at: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/whitmer/MI_Safe_Schools_Roadmap_FINAL_695392_7.pdf.