2021-22 COVID-19 INFORMATION

APS families, in accordance with Board of Education Policy, Alpena Public Schools will implement mandatory universal masking for all K-12 students, employees, visitors, and vendors, unless they have a documented medical exception or if wearing a face mask would not be consistent with a student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Facial coverings shall be worn during the school day and all indoor, afternoon/evening, school-related events. This policy is effective starting tomorrow, Tuesday September 21, 2021. Please check your email, APS Social Media, local media sources or alpenaschools.com for information about the APS mask mandate beginning tomorrow Tues 9/21/21.

Click HERE to read the full press release.

Alpena Public Schools Communications Regarding COVID-19 Cases

NOTICE 3/12/22:  Based on the recent MDHHS recision of its October, 2020 Epidemic Order, schools are no longer required to publicly post confirmed school-associated cases of COVID-19 as of March 11, 2022.  Therefore, the information contained in this public posting is no longer being updated.

Please refer to MDHHS updates to their Guidelines for Isolation and Quarantine for Michigan Residents, and school settings and the updated CDC School Guidance for more information. 

The information contained in this public posting area will remain available until April 1, 2022.

Whenever the district receives notification of a school-related confirmed case of COVID-19 in a APS student or staff member, we will make every attempt to be as transparent as possible. Due to confidentiality laws and policies, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act, we will not be able to provide specific information regarding any particular case.

Please know that you will be contacted if your child is a close contact with someone in the school setting who tested positive for COVID-19. The District Health Department #4 will advise you on what steps to take. If your family is not contacted, that means your child was not identified as a close contact of the person who tested positive.

As with other communicable diseases such as pertussis, whooping cough, etc., and consistent with confidentiality laws and rules, the school district will promptly inform staff and families of COVID-19 positive cases to which they or their student may have been exposed.

Given the size of the district, communications will go out at the specific building or program level. However, all district COVID-19 communications will be posted and publicly available on this webpage.

COVID-19 DISTRICT NOTIFICATIONS

Click HERE to view all notifications sent about positive school-associated cases of COVID-19 at various buildings in the district.

2021-22 Dashboard per District Building

To download and print the APS Student Mask Exemption form, use the hyperlink to open the document. 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released updated guidance related to quarantine, isolation, and COVID-19 in schools. School quarantine guidance for asymptomatic students who were exposed to a student infected with COVID-19 varies depending on a variety of circumstances.

Click HERE to view the press release.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE

We recommend taking action to help limit the spread of COVID-19, even if staff members or students are not experiencing symptoms:

• Wear a mask (covering mouth and nose) while in public places or if people who do not live with you must visit your home.
• Practice social distancing (maintaining a distance of 6 feet apart).
• Practice frequent hand washing (using soap for 20 seconds or hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol).
• Follow capacity restrictions of social gatherings.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or with the inside of your elbow and immediately wash your hands.
• Stay home if you are sick; you can also get tested.
• Answer the phone if the health department contacts you, as a contact tracer may be trying to reach you with important information.

COVID-19 DASHBOARD as of June 5, 2021

To protect the health of our School Community and per the Emergency Order issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Reporting of Confirmed and Probable Cases of COVID-19 at Schools on October 6, 2020, Alpena Public Schools will use this webpage to provide Public Notice to our School Community regarding School Associated Cases of COVID-19. Within 24 hours of being notified of a School Associated Case by the Department of Health District No. 4 this dashboard will be updated to include new and cumulative COVID-19 case counts. Individuals identified as Close Contacts of School Associated Cases will be notified separately and directly by District Health Department No. 4.

STATUS OF INSTRUCTION AND SCHOOL-SPONSORED FUNCTIONS

Method of Instruction to be determined for the 2021-22 school year by August 30, 2021.

School-Sponsored Functions:   

After consulting with our District Health Department, our district nurse and Athletic Director, we plan to continue our spring sports. The use of ongoing rapid testing provides useful and timely information that helps us continue our spring sports.  Student athletes wishing to participate will need to continue to adhere to the mandated rapid testing protocols as required by the MHSAA for participation.  For more information, contact Jon Studley,  Athletic Director, 989-358-5351 or studleyj@alpenaschools.com.

 SCHOOL ASSOCIATED COVID-19 CASES

We are working closely with the District Health Department #4 to identify Close Contacts of School Associated Cases of COVID-19. Anyone identified as a Close Contact will be notified by the health department as a part of the COVID-19 investigation process.

Staff, students, and parents/caregivers are advised to monitor for the onset of symptoms related to COVID-19, including fever, cough, difficulty breathing, headache, diarrhea, new fatigue, or loss of taste or smell.  If you notice any change in health, please stay home and call your regular medical provider.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE

We recommend taking action to help limit the spread of COVID-19, even if staff members or students are not experiencing symptoms:

• Wear a mask (covering mouth and nose) while in public places or if people who do not live with you must visit your home.
• Practice social distancing (maintaining a distance of 6 feet apart).
• Practice frequent hand washing (using soap for 20 seconds or hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol).
• Follow capacity restrictions of social gatherings.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or with the inside of your elbow and immediately wash your hands.
• Stay home if you are sick; you can also get tested.
• Answer the phone if the health department contacts you, as a contact tracer may be trying to reach you with important information.

This information does not mean you should quarantine or isolate. Those members of the School Community who were or are suspected to have been in Close Contact with a School Associated Case will be notified by District Health Department No. 4 or you can call MI COVID HELP or Trace Force at 1-866-806-3447 to obtain contact tracing and quarantine information. Trace Force is a fast, reliable way to get quarantine answers.  

Thank you for understanding that, due to medical privacy laws, we are not able to release the names of the individuals with COVID-19. We will continue to communicate changes and updates with you.  With your participation, we believe we can maintain a safe environment while also providing quality education.

If you have any questions, contact District Health Department No. 4 at  989-356-4507. For answers to your COVID-19 questions, please call the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136 or visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.

COVID-19 Updates and Remote Learning

COVID-19 DISTRICT NOTIFICATIONS

Use this link to view all notifications sent about positive school-associated cased of COVID-19 at various buildings in the district.

03.02.21 - Board of Education Special Mtg. - Instructional Learning Methods Exploration - The Board reviews methods of instruction to increase face to face instruction for the rest of the 2020-21 school year for grades 6-12.

11.5.20 - Parent & Staff Informational Meeting - Superintendent explains about COVID-19 protocols for transitioning to remote learning and answers questions from viewers.

12.10.20 - COVID-19 Information Update II - Superintendent Rabbideau provides an update and answers questions from viewers.

Dec. Parent/Staff COVID-19 Survey Comments  - Parents and staff were asked to submit responses on how well APS communicated about remote learning and COVID-19. Parties were asked if their preference to remote learning, in-person learning or APS Online changed since November and to please expound on their answers. 

COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan

The Board of Education approved a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan in accordance with State of Michigan guidelines on Thursday, August 13, 2020.

COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan

Presentation to the Board of Education

The document below is our approved and signed Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan dated September 13, 2020 and the required Assurances document:

APS Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan (signed)

APS Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan Assurances (signed)

On October 19, 2020 the Board of Education reconfirmed the Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan as required each month during the 2020-21 school year. [Board minutes available on the Board of Education page or by request from the Board Secretary, Lorie Kneeshaw.

10.19.20 APS Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan Reconfirmation Report

11.16.20 APS Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan Reconfirmation Report

12.21.20 APS Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan Reconfirmation Report

01.25.21 APS Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan Reconfirmation Report

02.15.21 APS Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan Reconfirmation Report

03.15.21 APS Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan Reconfirmation Report

04.19.21 APS Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan Reconfirmation Report

05.17.21 APS Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan Reconfirmation Report

06.21.21 APS Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan Reconfirmation Report

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