Detroit Public Schools Opens In-Person Summer Classes

DETROIT, MI — The start of in-person summer school at the Detroit school district was met by hundreds of protesters Monday, outraged over the school’s decision to hold in-person instruction amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Some students enrolled in the district began in-person learning through the district’s summer school Monday. Others are partaking in virtual classes. The in-person classes are the first classes the district's schools are opening to students since it closed buildings due to the coronavirus.

Protesters on Monday blocked an exit from the district’s bus garage with barrels and large tree branches.

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Patch has reached out to the district for comment on their decision to open to in-person instruction.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently released guidelines for opening schools, but warned that as the number of new coronavirus cases continues to increase, in-person classes may not resume.

The district said it was taking safety measures due to the coronavirus pandemic, including requiring both students and staff to wear masks and to practice social distancing. Other precautions include the daily disinfecting of classrooms and buses. The district said there is expected to be a 10-15 student to adult ratio.

The Detroit school district is offering math, English, science, social studies courses for high school students, as well as courses in which college credits are available.