On June 30, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap, which detailed the state’s plan for how to safely return to school in the fall. MASSP’s Bob Kefgen provided a “Know Before You Go” screencast overview of the Roadmap plan.  On July 1, MASSP hosted a Leader2Leader panel discussion with several members of the Governor’s Return to Learning Advisory Council. Participants had the opportunity to hear first hand about both the recommendations and the thinking that went into those recommendations from the perspective of the educators and health experts who developed them. 

“We focused collectively on using science and data, and all that we know about Coronavirus to help inform the plan,” said Brandy Johnson, a policy advisor for Governor Whitmer. “The Advisory Council of course included educators, but it also included those with an epidemiology background, a pediatrician, an infection preventionist, two public health officers ... It was really important that we grounded ourselves in the reality that Coronavirus is incredibly dangerous and still very much here. 

Johnson also noted that the Advisory Council agreed that nothing compared to face-to-face instruction, and that the entire Council kept student and educator safety in mind when developing the plan. 

Below are a few key takeaways from the panelists regarding how to form return to school plans: 

  • Plan with student and staff safety at the front of your mind. 
  • There’s more guidance and documentation to come. 
  • Plans for the Return to School should be made collaboratively with district leadership, faculty and community members
  • Not every district’s plan will look the same - it will depend largely on what your district can afford
  • Communication and education will be critical to the success of each district’s plan
  • Keep in mind that this is temporary: The Roadmap isn’t precedent for the rest of education, just for this unique time
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for outside help
  • No one is going to get everything right - brace yourself for learning as you go.

If you missed this latest round of Leader2Leader, click here to view the webinar in its entirety.

To view all previous Leader2Leader webinars, click here.


Written by Alicia Pilmore, MASSP Communications and Marketing Manager