Author: Doug Donnelly

News release from michigan.gov/coronavirus

Executive Order sets guidelines for remote learning, ensures teachers, school employees will be paid for remainder of school year

LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer today signed Executive Order 2020-35, which orders all K-12 school buildings to close for the remainder of the school year — unless restrictions are lifted — and ensures continuing of learning by setting guidelines for remote learning. District facilities may be used by public school employees and contractors for the purposes of facilitating learning at a distance while also practicing social distancing.

“My number-one priority right now is protecting Michigan families from the spread of COVID-19. For the sake of our students, their families, and the more than 100,000 teachers and staff in our state, I have made the difficult decision to close our school facilities for the remainder of the school year,” Whitmer said. “As a parent, I understand the challenge closing schools creates for parents and guardians across the state, which is why we are setting guidelines for schools to continue remote learning and ensuring parents have resources to continue their children’s education from the safety of their homes. There is no video chat or homework packet that can replace the value of a highly trained, experienced teacher working with students in a classroom, but we must continue to provide equitable educational opportunities for students during this public health crisis.”

The Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators and the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers are currently developing a Continuity of Learning Plan template application for schools to utilize in order to create their localized plan, the release reported. The application will be made available by April 3. District plans will need to detail how districts will provide opportunities for students to learn remotely and how schools will manage and monitor their progress. It will also provide information on how parents and guardians can learn more about the local plan. Each district must have its plan approved by their regional intermediate school district before being implemented. Public school academies must have their plans approved by their authorizer. Districts can also partner with one another to create joint plans.  

Every district’s plan will be different and will reflect what’s best and feasible for their community, Whitmer said. A plan can include learning by any number of modes of instruction delivery, including a hybrid approach. However they are designed, districts must ensure their plans are appropriate, equitable and accessible for students and families.

If the plan relies on some online instruction, the district should ensure every student who needs it has access to an appropriate device with an ability to connect to the internet. Students and families will not be penalized if they are unable to participate in their alternate learning plan.

Schools should continue to provide mental health care services for students, to the extent possible, and should be ready and willing to help efforts to establish disaster relief childcare centers, according to the release. School districts will also continue to provide meals for families who need them during the COVID-19 crisis. If any schools have unused personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies or other materials, they are allowed and encouraged to donate them to organizations that could put them to use.

School districts will have the flexibility to adopt a balanced calendar for the 2019-2020 school year and/or to begin the 2020-2021 school year before Labor Day without having to seek additional approval. Teachers and school employees will be paid for the remainder of the school year. Student teachers will still be able to get a temporary certification and current teachers will still be able to get their certifications renewed, even if they can’t meet all the requirements due to COVID-19.

All Michigan high school seniors will be given the opportunity to graduate this year so that they may make a successful postsecondary transition, Whitmer said. Additionally, all standardized tests previously scheduled for the remainder of the school year, including the M-STEP and the SAT, will be canceled. There will be a date in October for rising high school seniors to take the SAT and for other high school students to take the PSAT.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

After recording no additional cases of COVID-19 in the 24-hour period ending Monday, March 30, the next 24 hours ended today, Tuesday, March 3, saw a three-case increase to a total 18 confirmed cases with no confirmed deaths as of 4:30 p.m. that day.

There had been 85 negative coronavirus tests in Lenawee County with 18 positive and 23 results pending, according to the Lenawee County Health Department coronavirus page.

In Michigan, there was a marked increase in the past 24 hours according to the state’s COVID-19 website with 1117 new cases in the state bringing the total to 7615 and 259 deaths attributed to coronavirus in the state.

Monroe County has 49 confirmed cases and zero deaths; Hillsdale County has 14 confirmed cases and one death; Washtenaw has 305 confirmed cases and seven deaths.

In the Detroit area, however, the figures are higher in each county. Detroit City has 2080 confirmed cases with 75 deaths; Macomb County has 853 cases with 38 deaths; Oakland County has 1591 confirmed cases with 70 deaths and Wayne County is reporting 1655 cases with 45 deaths. Of the 259 deaths in Michigan, 228 have occurred in that area.

In Ohio, the story is much different than in Michigan. Ohio is reporting 2199 total cases with 55 total deaths. That is less than a third of the cases in Michigan and over one fifth the fatalities. Lucas County – home of Toledo, Ohio, has 133 total cases and three deaths with 21 hospitalizations; Fulton County just to the west of Lucas has two cases.

The Lenawee County Health Department site reporting on COVID-19 cases in Lenawee County was updated at 1:15 p.m Sunday, March 29, 2020, to show 15 positive coronavirus cases. A map that shows areas where those cases have been confirmed now covers much of the county. However, the department is not specifying where those cases are located.

There have been 48 negative cases and 25 tests’ results are still pending in Lenawee County.

From U.S. Army Corp of Engineers news release March 29, 2020

DETROIT — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, (USACE), Detroit District, announces it has received a verbal mission assignment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to construct a large alternate care facility in downtown Detroit. USACE continues to make significant progress across the nation in its efforts to support the FEMA-led response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.  

The first conversion in Michigan will take place at the TCF Center in Detroit, Michigan. USACE is well underway in its coordination and planning efforts to adapt more than 250,000 square feet of the convention facility into medical care space. The TCF center is well-known to Michiganders as the former Cobo Hall facility.

 “We are proud to work hand in hand with our partners at FEMA and the state of Michigan and leverage our engineering expertise to help save lives,” said Lt. Col. Gregory Turner, district engineer, USACE, Detroit District.

The conversion will include two separate floors, which will be segregated based on severity of illness. When completed, the conversion will include approximately 900 bed spaces and stations for medical personnel.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in her announcement of the effort, “We are proud to partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA and the TCF Center to expand capacity in Detroit. By mobilizing quickly to construct a large alternate care facility in Detroit, we can help save lives.”

USACE, Detroit District, anticipates it will take 24 to 36 hours to place a contract, at which point the TCF Center team will activate their personnel to start construction activities. Actual construction is expected to begin shortly thereafter.

Overall, USACE has received seven FEMA Mission Assignments (MAs) totaling approximately $880 million, and USACE has more than 15,000 personnel engaged, with more than 950 personnel deployed across the nation. Two of the FEMA MAs are for national activation and provide initial planning and engineering support nationwide to address possible medical facility shortages in the U.S. due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. USACE Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) have been activated at 43 locations across their divisions and districts.

Site visits across Michigan to assess and determine the necessary steps to convert existing buildings into alternate care facilities will continue as the state directs. USACE, Detroit District has performed 15 site visits to date across the state.

Through the unified national emergencies response, USACE deploys hundreds of people to provide technical engineering expertise and promote capacity development at home and abroad. The Corps provides management and technical services to include: management and oversight in design, engineering and construction; environmental restoration and management services; research and development assistance.

USACE continues to coordinate at every level with both federal and non-federal stakeholders, including FEMA, Health and Human Services, State of Michigan, Michigan National Guard and many others.

United Way News Release March 27, 2020

The United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties delivered an initial $33,000 in COVID-19 emergency relief aid to agency partners in Lenawee County for emergency food, supplies, rent/mortgage and utilities.

Corporation donations from Meijer and Consumers Energy were distributed to local agencies providing emergency relief and assistance to Lenawee County residents with food insecurities related to COVID-19.  Rent/mortgage and utilities assistance will be targeted for individuals and families economically effected by the pandemic emergency.  Recipient organizations include the South Michigan Food Bank, The Daily Bread, Share the Warmth, Neighbors of Hope, Catherine Cobb Safe House, Community Action Agency and Housing Help of Lenawee.

“We are thankful for great corporate partners whose gifts allows us to deliver immediate relief to the most vulnerable of our community members.  We also have great agency partners who are on the front lines delivering heroic services during this COVID-19 crisis—we want to ensure they have resources to meet these urgent needs,” reported Connie Carroll, executive director of the local United Way.

United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties is also accepting financial donations towards a local COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund to assist those in need due to the COVID-19 crisis.  Any donated funds will be used to assist with rent/mortgage payments and other COVID-19 related needs in Lenawee County. Funds collected and designated for the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund will be funneled to one of UW’s local partner agencies to distribute based on their established guidelines.  United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties will not be distributing funds directly to individuals.

The United Way also funds the local Central Michigan 2-1-1 Center based in Jackson.  Needed especially now, the 2-1-1 system and their 24-hour service is available for referral sourcing for individuals and families with needs during this national emergency.  Lenawee County residents can call 2-1-1 (or 866-561-2500) for updated COVID-19 referral information from certified information specialists.  The 2-1-1 system is also fully integrated into the statewide Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) MI-Bridges online portal system. 

Annually the United Way funds 12 local Lenawee County agency programs and serves as a donor designation vehicle for 30+ additional agencies.  They also sponsor countywide 2-1-1 services, and coordinate Project Ramp, 2 annual Health Check events, the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), and Day of Action programs and services.  All funds raised in Lenawee County stay in Lenawee County.  Call 517-264-6821, email lpipis@unitedwaymlc.org, visit us at 136 E. Maumee St., Suite 15, Adrian, MI 49221 or visit our website at www.unitedwayMLC.org. 

Lenawee County – 3 27 20 Press Release 17 L

ADRIAN — Lenawee County residents have more time to get caught up on their 2017 taxes and prevent their home from foreclosing after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order extending the property tax foreclosure deadline to May 29, 2020.

“With this order Lenawee County residents don’t have to worry about having their homes foreclosed on March 31st. This will give them more time, but the interest will still be increasing so don’t just put it off,” said Lenawee County Treasurer Marilyn Woods.

The treasurer’s office, along with other county departments closed on March 19 and will remain closed through April 13. Because the governor has ordered a temporary requirement to suspend activities not necessary to sustain life, the office will only take calls Tuesday and Wednesday of each week 8 a.m.-noon/1-4:30 p,m, at (517)-264- 4554.

Residents who still need to make property tax payments to avoid going into foreclosure may: (1) make payments online at www.lenawee.mi.us; (2) mail in their payment; or (3) use our secure drop box located outside the Annex Building, which is located at 113 W. Front Street, Adrian.

From www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/ At 3 p.m. March 27

Lenawee County now has eight confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the state’s coronavirus website, www.michigan.gov/coronavirus as of a report the afternoon of March 27, 2020. No coronavirus deaths have been reported in Lenawee at this time.

Statewide, there were 801 new confirmed cases with 32 new deaths in this report, withg a total of 3657 confirmed cases total and 92 total-related deaths. In addition, there have been 13,749 statewide specimens tested with 3136 positive, 10,524 negative.

In surrounding counties, Hillsdale County now has six cases and Monroe has 28. Washtenaw’s number climbed to 150 but it remained at three deaths as it had in the previous day’s report.

Wayne County now has 735 confirmed cases and 14 deaths; city of Detroit has 1075 positive cases with 23 deaths; Oakland County has 824 confirmed cases and 26 deaths; and Macomb County has 404 cases and 14 deaths.