When our schools dismissed for winter break in December,  we had just completed six weeks of distance learning, virus rates in our immediate community were on a steady incline, and the threat of a holiday spike loomed large.
Since that time, our administration has been in near-daily communication as a team, and with Oakland Health Division authorities to begin plotting our school district’s best possible path forward.
I am happy to report that, thanks in large part to the citizens of Clarkston, we have seen virus cases within our school district boundaries make a precipitous drop of more than 60% from our peak.
I am also encouraged by the news that under Phase 1B of our state’s vaccine prioritization schedule, people age 65 and up, along with front-line workers, including educators, are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
With all of this in mind, I recently shared our district’s plans to return to our school buildings beginning on Tuesday, January 19 in a hybrid (or reduced capacity) model, transitioning to full face-to-face instruction five days a week beginning Monday, February 1.
The two-week period of hybrid learning with district-wide Distance Learning Wednesdays is intended to be a stepping stone toward our full face-to-face return.
We want to return to the classroom and stay there safely.
In order for our schools to get back to as much of a “normal” learning environment that 2021 will allow, we will rely on each and every member of the Clarkston community to continue to do their part.
We will proceed with cautious optimism, knowing that if we struggle to maintain the integrity of our learning environment during our first two weeks back in a hybrid format, we will have to reevaluate and potentially adjust our plans.
Flexibility and grace are the name of the game when it comes to making plans in a pandemic.
Dr. Shawn Ryan is the superintendent of Clarkston Community Schools.