Northville Public Schools will continue in-session classes at Northville High School as scheduled, despite a recommendation from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer suggesting schools utilize virtual instruction for a two-week period as COVID cases continue to spike.
In a communication to parents, Superintendent of Schools Mary Kay Gallagher explained that the district would “continue to carefully monitor COVID-19 cases and follow safety protocols.”
“This is not a decision we take lightly. Throughout the pandemic, we have carefully considered the recommendations of our public health officials, including the CDC and MDHHS, in implementing safety protocols, mitigation measures, and learning plan options,” she explained.
She said the current in-person scenarios across Northville Public Schools maximize the high priority school mitigation measures that the CDC has identified as necessary during high transmission, including universal and correct use of masks and distancing. The hybrid schedule, with access to learning labs, in place at Northville High School allows students to be at maximum distance to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, and limits the number of close contacts and quarantines when there is a positive case of COVID-19.
Gallagher said the district had a significant increase in COVID-19 cases following spring break, however, the number of cases has declined last week , and the number of close contacts/quarantines from exposure at school has been very small.
She said while there were 28 cases on April 5, by Friday, April 9, that had been reduced to only three. Of 216 students in the athletic program, at Northville High School, there was only one positive COVID test result, she said.
Contact tracing, and quarantine protocols are followed district-wide, and implemented swiftly, Gallagher assured parents and the district has submitted a request to schedule additional drive-through COVID-19 testing events at Northville High School.
“Keeping our students in school, while continuing to safeguard the health and safety of students, staff, and families across our community is a collective effort. Thank you for everything you continue to do to support this effort,” Gallagher said
