Bloomfield district intends full fall 2021 opening

By Lisa Brody

In an email to parents, Bloomfield Hills Schools Superintendent Pat Watson said the district intends to offer full programming in the fall of 2021, from sports to field trips to programming.

“At this point in time, Bloomfield Hills Schools will be in position to offer full in-person programming in the Fall 2021. We are hopeful that traditions, field trips, clubs and organizations, sports, and all the things that make a complete school experience will happen for our students and staff next school year,” Watson wrote.

“While no one can predict what the circumstances will be in September, we are committed to maintaining a traditional in-person school experience, five-days-per-week, with the necessary safety protocols in place,” he continued. “With the ongoing research into effective mitigation strategies, broadening access to Covid-19 vaccination, and the opportunity to build on the lessons learned this year, we are confident and optimistic about the future that lies ahead as we come back together for the 2021-22 school year.”

To support the district's plan, they have been working across all departments on implementation, including how best to utilize all available learning spaces to allow for appropriate spacing of students; considering staffing needs to safely support a full time in-person teaching for all learners; continuing expansion of classroom technology, including training of staff on the use of technology to support individual learning needs, learning within and beyond the walls of the classroom, and flexible access to learning.

They are also examining contingency planning for safety protocols that maximize student and staff well-being; looking at continued testing and vaccinations; and continued efforts and strategies offered to support students who are in quarantine by orders of the Oakland County Health Department. They are also taking into consideration whether some families may wish to choose virtual education options.

Watson said that families will receive an email in the next week to ask their preference for returning to in-person learning or virtual learning, with annual registration planned for July.