March 18th, 2021

Dear Deckerville School Community,

Over the last couple of days, several of our students, both secondary and elementary have tested positive for COVID-19 and were present in our schools. This has made it necessary to quarantine a large portion of the student body and several staff members. These quarantines have presented our district with significant instructional and staffing challenges, as well as concern for the safety of our students and staff members and their families.

Effective Friday, March 19th, Deckerville Community Schools will transition to full remote learning for all grades, with a return to face to face instruction planned for Monday, April 5th.

Students will be sent home with devices and teachers will continue to engage and instruct their students via Google Classroom. If your student(s) have issues with connectivity to the internet, please contact the high school or elementary school office. It is important to emphasize that this transition to remote learning should not in any way be considered an “early” Spring Break. Remote instruction will begin tomorrow, March 19th, and continue until Friday, March 26th. Please be reminded that Friday, March 26th is also the end of the third marking period, and students will be expected to have assignments complete by then.

Career Center: Career Center students may continue with their program. A bus will be made available to transport students to the ISD and will run at its normal times. However, students will need to arrange transportation to and from the Deckerville High School campus.

Food Distribution: Deckerville Community Schools will not be distributing food during this 6 day period of remote instruction.

We are continuing to work closely with the Sanilac County Health Department to identify Close Contacts of School Associated Cases of COVID-19. Anyone identified as a Close Contact will be notified by the health department as a part of the COVID-19 investigation process. Please answer the phone if the health department contacts you, as a contact tracer may be trying to reach you with important information.

We recommend taking action to help limit the spread of COVID-19, even if staff members or students are not experiencing symptoms:

  • Wear a mask (covering mouth and nose) while in public places or if people who do not live with you must visit your home.
  • Practice social distancing (maintaining a distance of 6 feet apart).
  • Practice frequent handwashing (using soap for 20 seconds or hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol).
  • Follow capacity restrictions of social gatherings.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or with the inside of your elbow and immediately wash your hands.
  • Stay home if you are sick; you can also get tested.

Thank you for understanding that, due to medical privacy laws, we are not able to release the names of the individuals with COVID-19. We will continue to communicate changes and updates with you.  With your participation, we believe we can maintain a safe environment while also providing quality education.

If you have any questions, contact the Sanilac County Health Department at 810-648-4098. For answers to your COVID-19 questions, please call the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136 or visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.

 Sincerely,

Michael Hugan
Superintendent
Deckerville Community Schools