In an open letter, labor unions representing 2,000 employees from the school system expressed being “extremely distressed” by the board’s move during a special Aug. 7 meeting.

Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift has been superintendent of the school district since 2013.

Buildings with power will reopen for classes Monday.

Masks will be mandatory inside all AAPS school buildings Jan. 9-20, district officials said.

Ann Arbor Public Schools is implementing a universal masking policy for the upcoming school year at the recommendation of health protection agencies.

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!

AAPS plans to reopen for hybrid learning for grades 4-12 on May 3.

Ann Arbor Public Schools announces it is delaying the return to school for its older students due to "rapid," "significant" area COVID cases.

ANN ARBOR – Ann Arbor Public Schools welcomed preschool- through kindergarten-aged students back into school buildings on Thursday as part of its hybrid learning plan for the remainder of the school year. The district is starting with the youngest students and the students with the greatest needs, and will bring back older students in phases. AdAccording to a recent survey, 67.3 percent of K-12 students in Ann Arbor opted to return to a hybrid model while 24.5 percent opted to remain virtual; 8.2 percent did not respond. In her March 10 update, AAPS Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift shared what hybrid learning will look like and the district’s next steps. See some of those moments below:@A2_Carpenter We are excited to welcome all of our students to Hybrid Learning!

ANN ARBOR – In a recent update, Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift announced that the district is moving forward with plans to hold in-person graduation ceremonies this year. Last year, all ceremonies were canceled due to concerns over the then-new coronavirus pandemic and each high school organized drive-thru events and virtual ceremonies for its seniors. Swift confirmed that Huron, Pioneer and Skyline high schools will have traditional graduation ceremonies outdoors at Eastern Michigan University’s stadium. Tentative dates for the three ceremonies:Huron High School: Wednesday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m.Pioneer High School: Thursday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m.Skyline High School: Monday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m.Community and Pathways high schools are also planning to hold outdoor commencement ceremonies. In addition to the graduation update, Swift announced that all Class of 2021 students will receive a celebratory yard sign like last year.

ANN ARBOR – Local parent Nick Bagley has penned an open letter to the Michigan legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer calling for legislation that would ensure children return to school full time this fall. “I think a lot of parents are feeling kind of hopeless about this school year,” said Bagley. Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift has publicly said that school will be back full time in the fall. “They’ve shredded the trust they had in the community.”He criticized the state’s decision to leave school openings during the pandemic up to the districts.

The Ann Arbor Board of Education approved this week a plan to return to a hybrid learning model starting March 25. (A4)📊 You can now track weekly COVID-19 vaccine data on the Washtenaw County Health Department’s website. (MLive)❤️️ Meanwhile, in a heartwarming move, City Council voted to gift $25,000 to the family of longtime Ann Arbor firefighter Craig Sidelinger who recently passed away from cancer. Know someone who loves Ann Arbor? AdAll About Ann Arbor is powered by ClickOnDetroit/WDIV.

Ann Arbor Reasonable Return co-founder Jesse Kauffman holds a sign at a rally organized by the group in downtown Ann Arbor on Jan. 30, 2021. ANN ARBOR – Parent group Ann Arbor Reasonable Return released a statement on Wednesday afternoon in response to the Board of Education’s vote to offer a hybrid learning option. “Today, we celebrate the vote by the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education to offer Hybrid/Hyflex learning,” reads the statement. The grassroots organization founded by local parents, including medical professionals, has been advocating for the safe return to face-to-face learning. Ann Arbor is the only district in Washtenaw County and one of few in the state that has remained virtual since the coronavirus pandemic began.

ANN ARBOR – The Ann Arbor Board of Education voted 6-1 on Wednesday to approve a recommendation brought forward by Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift to transition to an in-person hybrid learning model starting March 25. Swift reiterated AAPS’ original hybrid plan that students will attend school two days per week in order to achieve proper physical distancing in school buildings:The hybrid learning plan involves the assignment of students to an A or B cohort group. Students attend school two days per week, Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday; Wednesdays will remain a virtual, asynchronous day. According to its Feb. 17 motion, the School Board proposed that students with the greatest needs return to school buildings on March 22. The School Board will reconvene its regular meeting Wednesday evening at 7 p.m.

ANN ARBOR – In a rare move, Mayor Christopher Taylor and several members of City Council have sent a letter to the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education urging them to stick to their plan of returning to a hybrid learning model. “Ann Arbor students and families are stretched to the breaking point,” reads the letter. If the science shifts, or a virus variant changes everything, Ann Arbor will understand. If the science shifts, or a virus variant changes everything, Ann Arbor will understand. AdThe City of Ann Arbor and Ann Arbor Public Schools have a long and successful history of working together to promote our children’s education, community, and health.

A high school student holds up a sign at a protest outside Skyline High School in Ann Arbor on Feb. 20, 2021. ANN ARBOR – Dozens of students and parents stood outside Skyline High School holding signs and giving speeches on Saturday, calling for the Ann Arbor Board of Education to continue with their original plans to return to school buildings beginning in March. AdAnn Arbor Public Schools students hold up signs at a rally to reopen schools at Skyline High School on Feb. 20, 2021. Skyline High School senior Eli Hendricks addresses a crowd of students and parents outside his school in Ann Arbor on Feb. 20, 2021. Signs posted outside Skyline High School's student entrance in Ann Arbor call for the return to hybrid learning.

ANN ARBOR – The Ann Arbor Board of Education released a statement on Friday evening clarifying the details of next week’s vote after considerable uproar from some community members. “At our meeting on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education voted to direct Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift to explore the feasibility of modifying its current Return to School Plan,” the Board clarified. “The Board apologizes for any confusion this vote on Wednesday may have caused our community during an already stress-filled school year due to the pandemic. Ad“The Board’s vote did not change or alter the approved transition to hybrid-in school learning option,” read the statement. In response to the Board’s motion, parent group Ann Arbor Reasonable Return launched a GoFundMe on Thursday, raising more than its $30,000 goal in less than 24 hours to establish a political action committee.

ANN ARBOR – High schoolers have organized a rally to take place at Skyline High School on Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. calling for the return to in-person learning. The move comes days after the Ann Arbor School Board made a motion to direct Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift to recommend that the majority of students remain in a virtual setting for the rest of the year. Ad“I created a Google form asking Ann Arbor students to express how they feel about online school and if they want to go in person. Parent group Ann Arbor Reasonable Return raised over $30,000 in less than 24 hours to establish a political action committee against the Ann Arbor School Board over its quick motion to potentially change its return to school plan it laid out in January. AdRelated reading:Ann Arbor School Board will vote next week on plan to continue virtual learning through end of yearHundreds of physicians, psychologists call for Ann Arbor Public Schools to reopenParents call for schools to reopen at rally in downtown Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR – Remember snow days? In a time when students remain in virtual classrooms, a snow day might not be as glamorous as it once was. Still, students in Ann Arbor Public Schools are in luck because Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift has declared Tuesday a snow day. Snow totals from the overnight storm are expected to exceed half a foot across Southeast Michigan, with some areas getting up to 10 inches. Those sledding hills might get busy.

ANN ARBOR – More than 350 local physicians and psychologists have signed an open letter and petition to the Ann Arbor Board of Education and Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift, urging them to reopen schools for students who choose to learn in-person by Gov. “The scientific, health and psychological consensus is clear: It is possible for children and teachers to safely return to school with proper mitigation measures. Ad“My own experience of seeing the devastation caused by school closure among Ann Arbor’s children has been eye-opening and heartbreaking. “It’s time for Ann Arbor to make the rational decision to allow students and families a choice of in-person schooling. AAPS students deserve better.”This is the third letter that Ann Arbor healthcare providers has sent to AAPS and coincides with efforts by parents to reopen the schools due to negative impacts their children are facing during the closures.

Members of parent group Ann Arbor Reasonable Return hold a banner at a rally demanding the return of hybrid learning in downtown Ann Arbor on Jan. 30, 2021. ANN ARBOR – Parent group Ann Arbor Reasonable Return rallied outside the downtown post office on Saturday afternoon to demand that Ann Arbor Public Schools reopen by March 1 -- Gov. Ann Arbor Public Schools have been closed since the coronavirus pandemic began in March. Parents and children hold signs at a rally calling to reopen Ann Arbor Public Schools in downtown Ann Arbor on Jan. 30, 2021. They wear them all day long.”AdAlan Simpson-Vlach with his wife, Rita, and daughter Marguerite at a rally to reopen Ann Arbor Public Schools on Jan. 30, 2021.

A sign for Ann Arbor Reasonable Return is posted next to the Ann Arbor Farmers Market on Dec. 9, 2020. ANN ARBOR – Ann Arbor Reasonable Return, a grassroots organization founded by local parents, will be holding a rally on Saturday in downtown Ann Arbor in support of Gov. The group, which also goes by A2R2, is made up of parents and medical professionals. The rally will begin at noon at the Ann Arbor Post Office at 200 E. Liberty St.“The community is urging Ann Arbor Public Schools to follow state guidance and finally offer the safe in-person option they advertised to the community at the start of the year,” read a press release. More than 500 parents have already petitioned the district, and the advocacy group presented a letter from more than 130 area doctors and pediatric nurses recommending a safe return to in-person learning.

ANN ARBOR – In her most recent message to the Ann Arbor Public Schools community, Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift announced on Friday that the school district is focused on returning to in-person learning as soon as possible. However, she said that reopening the schools is dependent on several key factors in order to return safely. Swift said AAPS has also acquired enough PPE for its staff to use once in-person learning begins. According to the announcement, the youngest students and students with the greatest needs will be the first to return to school. “As a result of their work, there is promise in this rapidly emerging testing process.”AAPS has not yet named a date for the return of in-person learning.

ANN ARBOR – Superintendent of Ann Arbor Public Schools, Jeanice Kerr Swift, announced on Thursday that the winter sports season will be delayed until January due to concerns over COVID-19. “Participation in indoor practices and competitions during a public health pandemic comes with a risk to the health and safety of those involved.”The announcement comes two weeks after Swift urged the Michigan High School Athletic Association in a public letter to postpone the winter sports season. Since Swift’s original letter on Oct. 30, new county and statewide cases have skyrocketed, breaking numerous one-day infection records. “Don’t wait for a call from the Health Department,” Jimena Loveluck, health officer for Washtenaw County Health Department, said in a statement. Schools across Metro Detroit have begun to shift from in-person to remote learning due to the surge in new COVID-19 cases.

ANN ARBOR – Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift released a statement on Friday morning urging the Michigan High School Athletic Association to postpone the winter sports season as cases of COVID-19 reach new levels across the state. We take our responsibility very seriously to coordinate high school sports activities in a healthy, safe and responsible manner during the COVID-19 pandemic that continues this fall. "Therefore, we are calling on the MHSAA to delay the start of the winter athletic season. "Over the next two weeks, we will continue our advocacy to delay the winter sports season. We will provide regular updates to our school community and present the Board of Education with a report on November 11, 2020.

Published: May 21, 2020, 10:15 am Updated: May 21, 2020, 11:51 pmANN ARBOR The Ann Arbor Board of Education provided several updates on Wednesday evening at a study session, namely that the 2020-21 school year will begin on Aug. 31. District officials said classes will be a modified face-to-face, blended and virtual learning experience. According to a district study, students in elementary, middle and high school reported high participation in distance learning. Heres the breakdown of the levels:Elementary: More than 93% of students participating in distance learningMiddle school: 88% of students participating in distance learningHigh school: 88% of students participating in distance learningAdditionally, 99% of families in the district confirmed to have connectivity capability. If there are any health concerns returning to school, virtual learning will still be offered.

ANN ARBOR – Ann Arbor Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday due to a winter storm expected overnight. The snow day announcement was made by Ann Arbor Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift on Twitter Tuesday evening, who said the early announcement was intended to help parents make arrangements for Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Ann Arbor Police Department tweeted some safety tips to keep in mind during Wednesday’s morning commute -- and a tip for parents who will be home with students tomorrow. Ok, Ann Arbor, tomorrow's commute may be tough, but we can do this! — Ann Arbor Police (@A2Police) February 26, 2020Related reading:

Police and fire department officers, elected officials and Ann Arbor Public Schools staff pose in front of Dicken Elementary to celebrate Safety Town's 40th anniversary in Ann Arbor on July 30, 2019. "Safety Town is part of Ann Arbor. How it beganFounded in 1979, the Ann Arbor Safety Town program began to educate entering kindergartners on how to be safe inside their homes and in the community. It began as a partnership between Ann Arbor Public Schools and the Ann Arbor police and fire departments. Ann Arbor's new police chief, Michael Cox, attends a meet-and-greet celebrating 40 years of Safety Town in Ann Arbor on July 30, 2019.