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Gladstone, Rapid River go to online learning

GLADSTONE — K-12 students at all grade levels in the Gladstone Area Schools and Rapid River Schools districts moved to online-only education this week on the advice of the local health department.

The move comes following an emergency order issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services earlier this month that mandated all high school students statewide shift their learning online through Tuesday, Dec. 8 as a precaution against the virus during the three-week period surrounding Thanksgiving. According to Jay Kulbertis, who serves as the superintendent of both districts, the decision to move all students to online education was made on the recommendation of Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties.

“At this time, we are in constant communication with the local health department as we consider a number of key metrics to help us determine the best way to deliver instruction under the circumstances. Given the positivity rate in our community, the rise in total number of cases and hospitalizations, and the impact on our staff and students, we are following the health department guidance and moving all of our K-12 students to virtual-only education,” Kulbertis wrote in nearly identical letters posted on the district’s respective Facebook pages Monday.

The districts plan to resume in-person learning on Dec. 9, when the emergency order from MDHHS expires. Until then, food service staff will be preparing food for distribution. Distribution schedules will be posted on the districts’ Facebook pages.

Parents and guardians with concerns about the shift to virtual learning are encouraged to contact their building’s principal or Kulbertis directly at jkulbertis@gladstone.k12.mi.us or jkulbertis@rapidriver.k12.mi.us.

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