Local middle school teacher speaks about the Michigan State’s School Safety Commission and what changes can or should be done for teachers and students to feel safe in the classroom once again.

It’s a trend we’ve seen across the country, and It’s picking up momentum in Metro Detroit schools. More counties are planning to lift the orders requiring face masks in schools. Ingham County is rescinding Its mask requirements on Feb. 19.

The COVID surge is forcing more schools across Metro Detroit to quickly switch back to virtual learning.

Metro Detroit schools are struggling and scrambling to keep everyone safe after spring break.

Gretchen Whitmer has been vocal about her desire to see all school districts off some kind of in-person learning option by Monday. A group of parents spoke with Local 4 about what they think is best for their children. They acknowledged that Whitmer wanting to return to in-person learning by March 1 was a step in the right direction, but they still want her to do more. The parents are urging Whitmer to take more action while it still can be done. “We just need to get them back into what they’re used to and what’s been proven to be best for our children,” Miller said.

DETROIT – School districts across Michigan are struggling to meet Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s target to return to in-person learning by March 1. Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti said 10-20% of students have been absent since the COVID pandemic started. The Southfield Public School District, has been 100% since March and while recognizing the importance of bringing students back to their teachers, Dr. Jennifer Martin Green said the science dictates the district remain remote. Both districts believe vaccinations are a key part in getting students and teachers back in the classroom safely.

DETROIT – A legend in the Detroit high school football scene has died Saturday. James Reynolds spent decades as the head football coach at Martin Luther King School earning the title of winningest coach in PSL History. King High School is a well respected school throughout the state of Michigan. That’s how Former King High Football Player Vincent Charles describes Reynolds. It was that style of coaching that got him the title of the best football coach in PSL history.

DETROIT – School officials said it’s simple -- cancelling in-person holiday gatherings greatly raises the odds of in-person learning in January. Multiple school districts across Metro Detroit returned elementary school to face-to-face education so that they can squeeze in a little in-person learning before winter break. Parents and teachers are split on the decision as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. READ: Tracking coronavirus cases, outbreaks in Michigan schoolsThe key to returning students to school safely rest with all of us, whether we have children or not. The leads to frustration for administrators and decision makers who are following the science.

DETROIT – An average of 3.6 percent of students who were enrolled in school this time last year are nowhere to be found and school districts are trying to find out what happened. Administrators are grappling with the decline in enrollment in terms of possible post education and financially -- if the students aren’t found, school districts will lose funding at a time when they need it most. Detroit Public Schools Community District sent out volunteers to locate students, and the district is still missing as many as 5 percent of its students. READ: Wellness teams sent out to check on Detroit Public Schools Community District studentsThe districts are concerned. That means if the districts don’t find and return the students they could face a reduction in per-pupil funding.

KEEGO HARBOR, Mich. – Parents and other community members in Keego Harbor express concern over an elementary school possibly closing even after voting for a bond three years ago to allocate money toward the school. Voters said that before voting “yes,” they were assured that Roosevelt Elementary School -- part of the West Bloomfield School District -- would not close down. A week ago, parents, staff and voters learned that West Bloomfield School District was consolidating from five elementary schools to four schools, with Roosevelt potentially being the one to close. “It’s absolutely a lie because they told us this would not close.”During an informal online meeting Thursday, school officials explained the money allocated for the school is virtually untouched. When asked at the meeting about not yet spending the money, Shannon Bingham, who is the West Bloomfield school district demographics consultant, said “I don’t know the exact particulars of that.

DETROIT Summer school is offering lessons about what education in Metro Detroit might look like with coronavirus (COVID-19) safety measures in place this fall. Much of the concern about returning to in-person classes has centered around children being unpredictable, but so far, schools are finding the real wildcard can often be parents. Schools in Metro Detroit plan to have some version of in-person learning this fall, using the current summer school model as a dress rehearsal. But some parents cause students to become holes in the chain link fence of safety precautions that school districts are trying to build for in-person learning. You can watch Paula Tutmans full story in the video posted above.