GLADSTONE — In order to get ready for the return of students to K-12 schools in Gladstone on Sept. 1, a district preparedness plan was approved in a special meeting of the Gladstone Area Schools Board of Education.

“We met to kind of finalize all of the details of the district preparedness plan,” Superintendent Jay Kulbertis said.

According to Kulbertis, a special meeting was held for the approval of the district preparedness plan because the deadline for having it finalized was Saturday, Aug. 15. The board’s monthly regular meeting is set to take place today.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Kulbertis gave board members an overview of the template used to develop the preparedness plan. He said the template was used to ensure the district would be in compliance with executive orders, the MI Safe Start Plan and the MI Safe Schools Return to School Roadmap.

The preparedness plan is divided into sections, which are based on the phases of the MI Safe Start Plan. If the region went back to Phase 1, 2 or 3, Gladstone Area Schools would have to once again focus primarily on online learning.

“We wouldn’t be allowed to have live, in-person instruction, so our plan details the hybrid model of instruction we would have,” Kulbertis said.

This model would provide online learning for students with internet service. Students who do not have access to the internet would be able to complete paper packets and connect with their teachers by phone.

Kulbertis also noted the district has developed options for students who have internet access but do not have a device they can use for online learning.

“We’ve got ways figured out to make devices available,” he said.

Phase 4 was described by Kulbertis as being the state’s most “prescriptive” phase for schools.

“In Phase 4, we would be allowed to do live, in-person instruction, but there are fairly specific safety protocols,” he said.

The preparedness plan describes how Gladstone Area Schools will meet these protocols. It addresses topics such as face masking requirements; student hygiene measures; plans for cleaning school buildings; cooperation with Public Health, Delta and Menominee Counties on the potential screening and testing of anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 in the district; and expectations for busing and other forms of student transportation.

Plans for Phase 5 are largely similar to plans for Phase 4.

“We’re allowed to do a lot more activities — there are potentially athletics and clubs and stuff,” Kulbertis said.

Otherwise, Kulbertis said Phase 5 will include the protective measures listed in the previous phase.

“All of the safety protocols in Phase 4 are also included in our Phase 5 plan,” he said.

Kulbertis said the entire Upper Peninsula is currently in Phase 5.

“We’re excited by that, and hopeful that that remains through the fall,” he said.

He went on to say being in this phase allows the district to provide more opportunities for traditional face-to-face instruction.

“It’ll be a little bit more like students are used to the longer our community stays in Phase 5,” Kulbertis said.

Since Phase 6 would essentially mark a return to business as usual in Michigan, the preparedness plan does not deal with this phase.

“That’s basically no restrictions, so there’s nothing required from us to address Phase 6 in our plan,” Kulbertis said.

Regardless of what phase the state is in, Kulbertis said Gladstone students will be able to take advantage of remote learning while the pandemic continues.

“We do have fully-virtual options available for those families who, for whatever reason, are not able to attend school,” he said.

These options would allow students who have to be quarantined to keep up with their classmates, as well.

Gladstone Area Schools has also been planning for the possibility of larger-scale quarantines when school re-opens.

“We’re going to work hand-in-hand with the health department — we’ve been meeting with them every week,” Kulbertis said.