Marshall Public Schools will be transitioning to a modified Phase 2 of the Returning to Learning Plan.

With the number of COVID cases decreasing at a significant rate and the promise of vaccinations in the near future, Marshall Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Carol Maher has announced the district will transition into a modified Phase 2 of the Returning to Learning plan.

This plan allows for all students to be in seats Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

According to Dr. Maher, there can be NO SOCIAL DISTANCING guaranteed in any of the MPS buildings.  Because of this uncertainty, although not a major one, parents may wish to enroll their child(ren) in the distance learning program.  Due to scheduling issues, however, this may not be guaranteed.  Decisions must be made on a case-by-case basis.

Below is the description of Phase 2.  All members of the MPS family are being asked to be mindful that the district is still dealing with a pandemic and changes may need to be made (even at the last minute) as they make their way back to what we hope is normalcy.

2^nd Phase:

 4-day on-site school week for elementary, middle and high school students and teachers

• MPS EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS WHEN AT SCHOOL. EVEN WITH A MASK, SOCIAL DISTANCING SHOULD BE PRACTICED WHEN AT ALL POSSIBLE.
• All -distance instruction on Wednesdays for teacher collaboration, work with individual students, small groups, and to plan for continued learning.
• The details of this plan are:
  • Students in-seat for face-to-face learning four days a week.
  • Temperature screenings at exterior doors for all buildings.
  • Flexible scheduling, when possible.
  • If possible, limited use of lockers or assign them by cohort to reduce need for hallway use across multiple areas of the building.
  • If feasible, teachers rotate rather than students.
  • Teachers should maintain 6 feet from students when possible, if not disruptive to the educational process.
  • If possible, restructure elective class offerings to allow small groups within one classroom.
  • The Acellus program will be used as a resource, such as a textbook, for distance learning.
  • School practices, games, and activities will be held based on each group’s safety and evaluated daily by the central office.
  • Measures to ensure safety protocols are being followed will be put into effect.
  • Activities and interactions with other districts will be monitored and held or cancelled due to safety and COVID rates in other communities determined by the school administrators and athletic  director.
•  Facilities are open to local public groups, if:
  • The group has been given permission by the MHS Activities Office.
  • Proof of insurance is provided.
  • A plan outlining mitigation strategies for the group is submitted to the MHS Activities Director.
  • Official approval from the MPS Central Office is given.

District officials will be tracking numbers of COVID cases through March 3rd.  If the numbers remain low, the announcement that MPS students will return for in-seat learning will be made on March 4th to begin on March 8th. 

Dr. Maher says a huge debt of gratitude goes out to students, parents, teachers, and staff for the way in which Marshall has united and risen to the challenge of this terrible illness.