Detroit had fought to keep its school buildings open, but the pandemic has caught up with the state’s largest district and its 51,000 students.
Ron French
Ron reports on a variety of subjects across the state. Ron came to Bridge in 2011 from The Detroit News, where he was a project reporter. Born and raised in Indiana, Ron graduated from Purdue University. He reported for newspapers across Indiana before moving to Michigan in 1995. Ron lives in Okemos, and like the true Michigander he’s become, he now has a family cabin Up North. You can reach him at rfrench@bridgemi.com or 517-214-3636.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan deeply divided over race, education, geography and news feeds
Divisions in our state go beyond who we supported for president. Voters say we are increasingly separated by political tribes, what we see on social media and what lessons we took from police protests.
Posted inTalent & Education
COVID spurs University of Michigan to close dorms, ask students to stay home
To try to head off another surge of coronavirus cases, U-M is encouraging students to stay in their hometowns next semester. The request comes as cases are skyrocketing in Michigan and nationwide.
Posted inTalent & Education
Classroom or home? Michigan schools, families still struggle to choose
Some Michigan schools are bringing students back to classrooms, while others are preparing for possibly going virtual. No decision is easy — or permanent — during a pandemic.
Posted inTalent & Education
COVID outbreaks slowing at Michigan K-12 schools, dropping at colleges
There are outbreaks in 99 Michigan school buildings, and more than 4,400 cases on college campuses. Still, there were signs the spread was slowing or receding in the past week.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan Christian school shut over COVID, files ‘religious liberty’ suit
Libertas Christian School in Hudsonville says health rules infringe on its religious liberties and free speech. Health officials say two teachers tested positive for COVID-19 and the school won’t cooperate with contact tracers.
Posted inTalent & Education
Despite rise in COVID, Michigan State to offer more classes, dorm housing
Saying coronavirus cases are the result of off-campus partying rather than classroom interaction, MSU is moving aggressively to increase in-person classes and on-campus housing beginning in January.
Posted inTalent & Education
West Michigan schools to community: Mask up for COVID or we close down
In an unusually blunt letter expressing the limits of their ability to control COVID-19 spread, 46 school superintendents pleaded with their communities to mask-up to help keep schools open.
Posted inTalent & Education
As COVID spreads, University of Michigan’s 31,000 undergrads ordered to stay home
In issuing the order, which runs until Election Day, local health and university officials are trying to rein in student social gatherings in an effort to flatten a spike in coronavirus cases. But, hey, football games will go on.
Posted inTalent & Education
Why it still matters whether Michigan K-12 students contract COVID
Very few young people infected by COVID-19 become seriously ill. But public health experts say the transmission of the virus among healthy students can endanger more vulnerable Michiganders.