ANN ARBOR, Mich. As students, parents, teachers and school administrators get ready for the upcoming school year, many are concerned about the safety of returning to in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those most concerned are Ann Arbor Public School teachers, who feel unsafe about returning to their classrooms in the fall. Through a social media post on Tuesday, July 14, the Ann Arbor Education Association detailed its concerns and urged the school district to continue with remote learning. The teachers union outlined issues like physical safety of staff and students, cleaning and sanitizing practices, mask compliance, substitute teachers, access to personal protective equipment and social distancing. In summary, we are saying we do not feel safe and that there need to be more concrete protections, comprehensive protocols, and more thorough planning in place for students and for staff, the post said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. A video made by Haisley Elementary School teachers has lifted the spirits of students stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Organized by first-grade teacher Ashley Wight, the video starts with drone footage of empty school grounds around the elementary school. It transitions to a video call between Wight and Haisley Principal Dante Watson who talk about missing their students and the Haisley community. Haisley teachers can be seen dancing by themselves and with family members to The Git Up by singer-songwriter Blanco Brown. Over the phone, Wight said that most of the Haisley teachers and teachers assistants participated.