Dear MCC School Family,
Given the current state and the governor’s orders to conduct face-to-face instruction, the State of Michigan is recommending schools provide 5 full days of face-to-face instruction when in phase 4 or above and provide all virtual instruction if our region is in Phase 1 to 3.
The Mason County Central School District will put protocols and processes in place to provide as safe an environment for students and staff as possible.
The Mason County Central School District believes that in-person instruction is best for student learning while acknowledging that the threat of COVID-19 has challenged our ability to provide face to face instruction as our sole method for teaching children. We understand that anything less than a full-time, in-person school schedule strains many of our parents who have to go to work and cannot be home with their children. We also recognize that because of medically fragile students, at-risk family members, or other issues, some families may not be comfortable returning to a traditional classroom until a vaccine for COVID-19 is widely available.
With that noted, for the start of the 2020-2021 School Year, the Mason County Central School District will offer our families the following options:
1) Traditional schooling, following guidelines based upon Michigan’s 2020-21 Return to School Roadmap that protect the health and well-being of students and staff as much as possible, or
2) Learning from home (LFH), emphasizing that the level of instruction and learning expectations will be equal to a traditional schooling environment.
The safety guidelines and plans set for our schools and facilities are based upon Michigan’s 2020-21 Return to School Roadmap and are fluid and subject to change, as the safety of our students and staff are our top priority.
Please click here to read the State's guidelines for operating our schools as safely as possible.
The Mason County Central School District is in the process of finalizing our district and grade level specific plans and will be sharing them through the MCC App and Website in the coming weeks.
If, after reading the guidelines, plans and safety precautions, you remain uncomfortable with returning your child to a traditional classroom, you may opt to participate in our revised Learn from Home (LFH) model with the following stipulations:
- Your commitment to the LFH model will be for a complete trimester (approximately 12 weeks).
- Students will not be able to shift back and forth between traditional learning and the LFH model during the respective grading periods.
- The LFH model will rely on the Google Classroom platform where LFH teachers will post instructional assignments, so students will need to have a computer at home. If you do not have a computer for your child, you may check out one from your child's school.
- As noted above, the instructional level will be equal to a traditional classroom environment and much more rigorous than what was experienced this past spring.
- If need be, the Mason County Central School District will work with families to support parents in online learning.
- The Mason County Central School District will plan to add online components to all instruction that will support a transition to online instruction if our region moves to phase 1 thru 3. Online instructional strategies will train students and families to use electronic modes of instruction.
PLEASE NOTE: Because it was the end of the school year, this past spring’s lessons and learning were focused more on review and enrichment. With the start of the new school year, instruction and learning will shift back into more of a new learning/instructional mode with grades and credits being earned by students.
- In the LFH model, teachers will post assignments and videos, host video chats, etc., with a specified timeline that will need to be strictly adhered to by students.
- Parents that opt to have their children learn from home due to safety concerns will still be permitted to participate in extracurricular school sports, clubs and organizations which operate under the auspices of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). The MHSAA permits student involvement as long as they maintain the eligibility requirements of the MHSAA.
PLEASE NOTE: We are scheduling all Pre-K-12 students in the traditional schooling model, expecting all students to return to school on September 8. If you plan to send your child/children to school under this model, no further action is required.
For questions, please email cmayer@mccschools.org or call 231-757-3713.
Individual Education Plan (IEP)
There is no one-size-fits-all approach, especially when we are considering the needs of our special learners. Every Individual Education Plan (IEP) is developed based on the student’s needs. Students with learning and attention challenges may struggle in the school environment and require hands-on instructional and behavioral supports. These supports may be impossible to duplicate in a virtual setting. It is recommended that parents of students with disabilities who are receiving special education services only consider the LFH option if their child’s health is already compromised. However, if the need is there, we will do our best to partner with parents and provide the best education possible. Please call your child’s building principal at the number(s) listed below to discuss your child’s specific situation.
High School (9-12): Jeff Tuka 231-757-4748 ext. 220
Middle School (6-8): Rob Dennis 231-757-3724 ext. 320
Upper Elementary (3-5): Kevin Kimes 231-757-5720 ext. 420
Scottville Elementary (K-2): Chris Etchison 231-757-4701 ext. 520
