KINGSFORD — Schools in the Upper Peninsula are in Phase 5 of the Michigan Safe Start plan, which allows for in-person instruction under health and safety guidelines, but area school superintendents will prepare for other possibilities and options as well.

“Our schools will follow our state’s directives regarding the opening of schools,” said Wendy Warmuth, superintendent of the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District. “We know there is potential for changes to these directives, our phase status, and other circumstances. We stand ready to adapt and be flexible to ensure the best outcome for our students.”

Superintendents have been meeting to discuss their COVID-19 preparedness and response plans and offered a public update this week on their progress. Under current plans, each local school district will offer a variety of learning choices.

Michigan’s school reopening plan divides the state into regions and assigns each one a reopening phase from 1 to 6, with 6 being “post pandemic.”

“Under Phase 5 schools are planning virtual and/or distance learning options as well as in-person learning,” Warmuth said. “The in-person option may include a blend of in-seat and online learning. We learned many lessons last year and one of them was that we must be prepared to change quickly when we are given new directives from our state. We will be ready to shift from in-person to online or packet learning if it becomes necessary.”

In addition to Warmuth, the superintendents include Craig Allen, Breitung Township Schools; Jerry Sardina, Iron Mountain Public Schools; Louis Steigerwald, Norway-Vulcan Area Schools; Angel Inglese, North Dickinson County Schools; Christy Larson, Forest Park Schools; and Chris Thomson, West Iron Public Schools.

Daren Deyaert and Ruth Manier of the Dickinson-Iron Health Department have joined the superintendents to offer advice and up-to-date information. They discussed the need to work on protocols that can be used between the health department and the schools to allow for proper communication and yet maintain privacy rights.

“Working collaboratively strengthens our ability to better serve our community,” Warmuth said. “We look forward to returning to learn in whatever format is most comfortable for each of our students and their families. We value our staff and have been impressed with their commitment to education as well as their dedication to our students and schools whether as teachers, ancillary staff, aides, support staff, custodians, food service, daycare, bus drivers, secretaries, or administrators. Our focus continues to be on providing quality and safe public education to our students in the best way possible under our historic circumstances.”