Flint Township View

SCCS officials look forward to ‘some semblance of normalcy’ in new school year




SWARTZ CREEK — The 2021-22 school year will begin Aug. 30 with the Swartz Creek Community Schools district following the COVID-19 safety recommendations of health professionals.

“We are certainly going to follow the guidelines from the (Centers for Disease Control) and health department,” said Superintendent Ben Mainka. “They are recommending people wear masks. We will recommend that, as well. That is not a requirement. We’re leaving the decision up to parents.”

The district will issue an official recommendation, but the choice, at this time, is up to the parents. However, as district officials meet weekly with the health department and monitor the data, that could change, Mainka said.

“It’s important to be balanced,” he said. “We need to be able to look at the data and be reasonable. If things elevate and we see transmission, we need to be prepared to act and do what we need to do to keep children safe. And, we have to do what the (CDC and health dept) are mandating.”

Staff will continue to disinfect classrooms “at a clip exceeding any other year,” and provide hand sanitizer, and encourage students and staff to stay home if they are not feeling well.

“Hopefully, our families will make good decisions,” Mainka said. “We’re excited to – I don’t want to say it’s a fully normal year – but we want to get back to some semblance of normalcy.”