April 3, 2020
Your Daily ISD News & Updates
Welcome to the MAISA Daily InSiDe Update.
MAISA will be providing this resource of critical topics each day. Please reach out to sfranck@gomaisa.org if you have additional items to add.
MAISA-GELN Continuity of Learning Guidance
With the Governor’s Executive Order and the release of the Continuity of Learning Plan template, we know that districts are off and running and as a result, will have many more questions. MAISA will be hosting a Remote General Membership Meeting for ISD Superintendents on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm . A calendar appointment was sent out earlier today.

The GELN Continuity of Learning Committee is developing guidance for districts and ISDs that will be released on or before Tuesday, April 7th . This guidance will include sample district plans and links to resources for district leaders and teachers, all directly connected to the plan requirements in the Governor’s Executive Order. Additionally, this guidance will include a tool for you as you review district plans.

Please encourage your districts to begin developing their plans now, but not submit until they have seen the guidance from this committee. 
Michigan's Continuity Learning Plan Process
As a result of COVID-19 and the closing of school buildings for the 2019-2020 School Year, school districts and Public School Academies must submit a Continuity of Learning and COVID-19 Response Plan (“Plan”) in order to continue to receive state aid for operations. Each Public School District shall submit a completed Application which includes: an Assurance Document, Budget Outline, and Continuity of Learning Plan to its Intermediate School District (ISD). ISDs should review and approve completed Applications and submit them to the state (instructions below).
 
The Governor’s Executive Order ( EO 2020-35 ) requires all schools to begin providing learning opportunities for all students no later than April 28, 2020. Public School Districts that are able to begin their Plans earlier are encouraged to do so. The Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers (MCCSA), Michigan Department of Education (MDE), and Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA) have developed a model Application to complete and submit to Authorizers and Intermediate School Districts. The model Application is attached as well as a sample message that can be shared in your communication.
 
Pursuant to the Executive Order, ISDs must begin reviewing and approving Applications by April 8, 2020. Accordingly, please share the attached Application with your Local School Districts as early as possible. All approved Applications shall be sent to the Michigan Department of Education (Kyle Guerrant, guerrantk@michigan.gov ) before April 28, 2020 to ensure the continued flow of state aid for operations.

The Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA) applauds the Governor for her leadership and commitment to moving learning forward for Michigan students. The next few months will bring extraordinary change to teaching and learning in our state. MAISA appreciates the significant role ISDs have in shaping it. You may receive this Application from multiple sources. In addition, you will be receiving guidance from MAISA on how to review plans along with sample plans for use by Local School Districts in completing the Application. This guidance will be sent on or before April 8, 2020.
 
As you develop your Application submission and review process, please do not hesitate to reach out to MAISA with questions.
 
Gratefully,
 
William Miller, Ph.D.
Executive Director, MAISA


Special Education CLP Update
The MDE Office of Special Education hosted a meeting on April 3, 2020 with ISD Special Education Directors. During that meeting it was shared that Continuity of Learning Plans (CLP) will be required for students with disabilities whose IEPs cannot be fully implemented during this time. 

MDE will be issuing written guidance from a compliance perspective along with many other topics next week. MAISA will be creating a sample CLP for districts along with written guidance to supplement the MDE work. That is expected to be released on or before April 13th.  
Connectivity Survey Update
Summary of the “Student & Staff Connectivity Survey”
Thank you ISD technology leaders from the MAISA METL group for helping local districts complete the survey. As districts continue to survey their families and staff, please support them in adding their responses to the data.

Our current data, as of April 3, 2020 at 2:30 pm:

  • Number of students reported: 764,182 (approximately 52.7% of Michigan students)
 
  • Number of students reported with sufficient internet access: 528,366 (approximately 68.9% of Michigan students)
 
  • Number of students reported with access to a device: 522,775 (approximately 68.4% of Michigan students)
 
  • Number of district devices that are, or could be, made available for home use: 359,491 devices
 
  • Number of staff reported: 69,616
 
  • Number of staff reported with sufficient internet access: 47,593 (approximately 68.4% of respondents)
 
  • Number of staff reported with access to a device: 50,664 (approximately 72.7% of respondents)
 
Click here for a Report by ISD .
Governor Whitmer Makes Appointments to Boards and Commissions 
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced appointments today to the the Suicide Prevention Commission. Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to all those that applied.

We would like to offer a special congratulations to Nancy Buyle from Macomb ISD who was named to be part of this critical administration. Below is an excerpt from the press release.

Nancy Buyle, of Chesterfield, is the school safety and student assistant consultant for Macomb Intermediate School District. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Oakland University. Mrs. Buyle is appointed to represent a member who is nominated by the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators and is trained in the "Michigan Model for Health" curriculum. She is appointed for a term commencing April 3, 2020 and expiring April 2, 2024.