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Back to School 2.0

The return of the school year has always been a time of expectation and excitement: new books, old friends, crisp football nights. This year, it’s all confusion and uncertainty, as the COVID-19 pandemic plays havoc with learning, students, families and schools. With most of Kent ISD’s 20 public school districts opening next week, School News Network talks to a sampling of superintendents about how they are balancing the imperative to educate students while trying to keep them safe.

Byron Center to reopen school with hybrid model

Byron Center Erin Albanese
Byron Center Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Macina said the district is opting to begin school Aug. 31 with a hybrid plan combining in-person with virtual learning, with hopes to shift to fully in person, five days a week Sept. 28...

Changes in virus trend prompts change in opening plans

Rockford Charles Honey
The board unanimously approved teaching all students online through Sept. 11, then giving them a choice of in-person or virtual learning...

Several factors considered in GRPS reopening plan

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan
While many local school districts are beginning the school year with only a few weeks of online learning, Grand Rapids Public Schools, the largest of Kent County's districts, will do online-only education until the end of its first marking period, Oct. 21...

Ready or not, school year begins as leaders adopt plans to teach, protect students

Back to School 2.0 Charles Honey
With most of Kent County’s public school districts opening next week, superintendents talk about their plans to educate students while trying to keep them safe from an unpredictable virus...

Families need to choose either full-time virtual or in-school learning

Sparta Janice Holst
The Sparta reopening plan is an either-or proposition between face-to-face instruction or virtual learning...

Most Kent City students heading back to classrooms this fall, but will wait until 9-8

Kent City Janice Holst
Kent City Community Schools will open school as scheduled on Wednesday, Aug. 26, with primarily face-to-face education, offering a virtual option for families who prefer to keep children home...

Community input key to district’s reopening plan

East Grand Rapids Morgan Jarema
After initially releasing a fully in-person return-to-school plan, the district revised it twice as national, state and local health guidelines changed...

Local supe works with governor on reopening ‘Roadmap,’ encourages equity in decision-making

Back to School 2.0 Beth Heinen Bell
Superintendent Kevin Polston’s work with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has given him a unique perspective on the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of reopening school during a global pandemic...

How Students are Returning to School

Back to School 2.0 Erin Albanese
Here’s your guide to how the 20 public school districts of Kent County are reopening this fall...

Making the best of it

Back to School 2.0 Morgan Jarema
Students, parents, teachers and others share their feelings about the start of this unprecedented school year...
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School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent ISD, which enroll more than 102,000 students. Founded in 2013 as an initiative of Kent ISD, we are supported by local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and multimedia journalists. We specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues facing students and highlighting the education magic that happens each day in our public schools.

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