Superintendent expresses confidence in remote learning

Editors note: This interview was conducted before Sunday’s MDHHS Emergency Order was issued both closing High Schools to in-person learning and halting all school sports through December 8th.

As the Manchester Community Schools district has made the transition to entirely remote learning as of this past week, including the elementary grades beginning today (Monday), The Mirror checked in with Superintendent Brad Bezeau to get his take on the overall situation.

Many other districts, both locally and across the state, have chosen to make a similar transition on a similar timeline, extending until November 30. Asked whether this was an overall recommendation from the state or more of a coincidence, Bezeau responded, “It made a lot of sense for our district leading into the Thanksgiving Break dates of Wednesday, November 25th, Thursday, November 26th, and Friday, November 27th as No School dates for our students.

“As we continue to monitor the increase in numbers of positive COVID-19 cases, the increase in hospitalizations, and the increase in numbers of deaths in our area, we will reconsider this engagement platform. Unlike many surrounding school districts, we were able to conduct in-person school for ten weeks, which has been a major benefit for many of our students.”

With winter sports just beginning, we asked if practices would still be allowed, games would continue, and if other events might be affected. Bezeau’s response was, “We will continue to work with the Michigan High School Athletic Association guidelines and recommendations and implement all required personal protective and mitigating elements for our students, but this is something that the Cascades Conference Superintendents and Athletic Directors, as well as a bi-weekly meeting that I have with our WISD and all County Superintendents, continue to discuss and monitor closely.”

Bezeau also added that a full remote learning platform should actually be a benefit to all students and staff as well. “Our teachers, and both in-person and remote learning students, feel much more confident in their abilities to access and engage with the instruction and learning in this format than before. With the continued expectations of daily attendance, grades and percentages being marked for assignments and assessments, and the scheduled times for each student for direct, synchronous instruction, we know that all of our students are positioned well for instruction during this time.”

Even though there will be no K-2 classes held at Klager during the next two weeks, the MECC preschool and day care is open as scheduled, since there is no remote option for the preschool, according to Klager Principal Karin Villarreal.

“Our day care will not close unless all day cares are closed,” Villarreal added, as it is an essential service.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.