Gov. Whitmer, lawmakers working on bipartisan plan to safely reopen Michigan schools

Michigan lawmakers are working with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on a new bipartisan legislative package that would provide the framework for how schools can safely educate students this fall.

The plan is tentatively set for a vote Saturday during a rare weekend session of the state Senate, with expectations for the House to adopt the same proposal on Monday. 

The compromise efforts come as Michigan educators and families seek clarity and many districts scramble to find the safest way to welcome back students during a pandemic at thousands of schools that are supposed to start in several weeks. 

More:Michigan schools, parents have tough choice to make — and time is running out

While negotiations on the specifics are ongoing, Democrats and Republicans believe all parties will find common ground ahead of the Saturday session.  

“I don’t think during a pandemic we should ever be political, but that ship’s already sailed,” said Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, a Flint Democrat and former teacher. 

“I think when it comes to schools and educating our children, we need to come up with a consensus and not score political points. Hopefully we’ll be able to do that.” 

Amber McCann, a spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, said the Senate, House and administration “are nearing consensus on the details.” 

House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, echoed his colleague's optimism. 

"Conversations with the administration and the Senate are going well, and I'm hopeful we can get the governor's support soon. Parents and children across the state deserve real answers and options. Passing this plan is the right thing to do," Chatfield said in a comment emailed by a spokesman. 

Whitmer spokeswoman Tiffany Brown did not answer questions about the proposals currently in front of the Legislature. 

“Over the last few months, Governor Whitmer has been working with experienced educators to build a path forward for school districts to ensure that students can receive a quality education despite the tremendous challenges presented during the coronavirus pandemic,” Brown said in an emailed statement. 

“She will continue to partner with state and federal policymakers to ensure schools, parents and children are safe and well-supported this school year.”

More:Gov. Whitmer says schools will reopen this fall for in-person learning

More:Michigan GOP return-to-school proposal calls for more local flexibility, more money

In June, Whitmer released a 63-page "return to school roadmap" that outlined recommendations for how local districts could safely educate students in the fall. The proposal incorporated the governor's six-step plan for combating the coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19. 

The roadmap allowed for fewer safety protocols and restrictions for school districts in regions of the state further along in controlling the spread of the virus. Schools in regions of the state in the most regulated stages of the reopening plan faced stringent requirements, including no in-person classes or athletics. 

Under this plan, local schools needed to submit plans to their local districts for following the roadmap recommendations by Aug. 17. But in July, the state House approved a Republican-proposed legislative package along party lines that appeared to contradict these recommendations.

The House Republican "Return to Learn" plan included requiring in-person classes for students in kindergarten through fifth grade while offering districts additional funds to bolster distance learning programs.

The GOP plan includes a variety of proposals that were beyond what schools needed to reopen during the pandemic, said Peter Spadafore, an executive director with the Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators. 

Educators had hoped for more clarity in recent weeks, but the Legislature canceled sessions earlier this month after state Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, announced he had tested positive for COVID-19. 

Now, with the start of school around the corner, Spadafore said schools want any proposals to focus mainly on three issues: 

• How districts will be funded.
• How schools should account for student attendance, including any missed days because of the coronavirus. 
• How districts ensure continuity of learning, through either in-person classes, online programs or a hybrid approach. 

Typically, schools are required to have 75% attendance in order to receive all of their allocated state funds. But lawmakers need to determine how that works if hundreds of students are attending classes virtually, said David Hecker, president of the state chapter of the American Federation of Teachers union. 

Many schools have already adopted their plans ahead of the Aug. 17 deadline, Spadafore said. That means any compromise passed in the Legislature may require some schools to go back and make changes to their plans days before the start of school. 

Some districts have already decided to offer in-person classes, a virtual-only start to the year or a hybrid model, where some students are taught in-person and others online. Ananich said the purpose of the plan is to give districts the flexibility to make the choices that are right for the local community. 

Ananich did say he believes a mask requirement will be part of the compromise proposal, but did not immediately have additional details.

"We think that everyone should wear a mask, staff and students. That's the very least that should happen," Hecker said. 

Whether any students are required to attend classes in person is still in flux. 

“I think a specific mandate like that is troubling for a lot of us,” Ananich said. “I can speak for the Legislature: We’re not scientists here. ... There are a handful of us who are educators, and it’s still hard to determine specifically which grades should or should not be taught in person versus virtual.” 

More:Detroit schools to offer choice of in-person or online schooling

Spadafore said he hopes the Legislature does not include any mandate. 

"To come in and then say a mandate to do X,Y or Z, means that now every bit of work we've done over the last several weeks was for nothing and we should have just waited for the Legislature  to send the plan on the last day," Spadafore said. 

"My hope is that whatever solution is crafted in terms of (course) delivery provides options to districts, but not mandates." 

Ananich did say negotiators are making headway on deciding how teachers and students will be evaluated during a clearly unusual academic year, and how districts count students who are learning from home for funding purposes. 

As is common at the Statehouse, negotiations will likely continue up to and through Saturday morning, when the Senate is set to meet  at 10 a.m. 

Contact Dave Boucher at dboucher@freepress.com or 313-938-4591. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.