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District COVID-19 Updates

Bay City Public Schools is closely monitoring the outbreak of coronavirus and the impact that it is having on our schools. Leaders are meeting regularly to manage the district's response. This website will provide updates to the community regarding district actions related to our schools.

Recent Updates

Please know that some of the information here could change quickly. The best way to stay informed about how COVID-19 is impacting Bay City Public Schools is to:

June 26, 2021

  • Effective immediately, face coverings will not be required for our students, staff, or guests while on school premises. Mask wearing is at the discretion of each individual, and as a district, we respect your individual choice. We expect the 2021-2022 school year to be mask-optional with traditional in-person classroom instruction, while virtual options will be available for those interested. For more information, see Superintendent Bigelow's letter to the community.

April 28, 2021

  • Grades 6 through 12 are returning to face-to-face instruction on Monday, May 3. We will continue to utilize COVID-19 mitigation measures, including the wearing of masks. Thank you for your patience during these difficult times.

April 22, 2021

  • We understand receiving weekly decisions is frustrating for many families, but we are constantly monitoring our status in hopes of providing face-to-face instruction for all of our grades. While we see some minor improvements, after consulting with the Bay County Health Department, Grades 6 - 12 will be in remote instruction for April 26 - April 30. Elementary grades (PreK - 5) will continue to be in face-to-face instruction. Your child’s school will be in contact regarding student assessment dates.

April 15, 2021

  • After consulting with the Bay County Health Department, Grades 6 - 12 will be in remote instruction for April 19 - April 23. Elementary grades (PreK - 5) will continue to be in face-to-face instruction.

April 9, 2021

  • After consulting with the Bay County Health Department and in response to heightened COVID-19 exposures, notably among secondary students, Grades 6 - 12 will be in remote instruction for April 12 - April 16. Elementary grades (PreK - 5) will be in face-to-face instruction beginning April 12. Thank you for your patience and understanding during these challenging times. We understand this school year’s fluidity is difficult for families and staff alike as we continue to balance educational and health needs.

March 24, 2021

  • After consulting with the Bay County Health Department and in response to increased COVID-19 exposures in our community, all Bay City Public School students will be placed in remote learning when we return from Spring Break for four days. Details can be found in the superintendent's message.

March 22, 2021

  • Due to recent COVID-19 cases and their associated quarantines, Bay City Central High School will be remote-only from March 23 through the start of Spring Break. More information is available here.

January 22, 2021

  • The Board of Education voted at last night's Board of Education Meeting for face-to-face instruction for grades 6-12 to resume on Monday, February 1, 2021, following the traditional Monday-Friday schedule while continuing with building COVID-19 mitigation procedures. To read more, please see Superintendent Bigelow's January 22, 2021 letter to the community.

January 12, 2021

November 9, 2020

  • Due to rising COVID-19 positivity in our county, Superintendent Bigelow has moved all schools in the district to remote instruction beginning Wednesday, November 11, 2020. We are planning on a return to in-person instruction at the beginning of 2nd semester, Tuesday, January 19, 2021. His full memo can be read here.

September 23, 2020

  • Last night, the Bay City Public Schools Board of Education approved a return to face-to-face instruction. Grades K-8 return to face-to-face instruction on Monday, October 12, 2020. Grades 9-12 return to face-to-face instruction on Monday, October 19, 2020. Please see Superintendent Bigelow's letter to families for more information. Parents are encouraged to contact their child's school with questions.

August 14, 2020

  • Since Monday night’s decision by our Board to start the 2020-21 school year remotely, we have been planning with input from teachers, principals, and parents in mind. We recognize the need for more information about what remote learning will look like this fall, and have prepared this Remote Learning Guide for Parents that we hope helps answer some of the questions you may have. Thank you again for your patience as we work to plan for a successful remote start to the school year.

August 10, 2020

  • The Board of Education today approved a full remote (online) start ot the 2020-2021 school year. The beginning of the school year has been moved to September 1, 2020. We will spend the next two weeks preparing students and staff for this transition. For more information, please see Superintendent Bigelow's letter to the community.

August 6, 2020

  • The district released a one-sheet overview of In-Person Learning Health Safety Practices to help share information about new practices being put into place for Fall 2020 to keep students and staff safe. For answers to frequently asked questions related to health safety practices, see the Fall 2020 Return to Learning Parent FAQ. We've added a new section of questions and answers dedicated specifically to these new practices.

August 3, 2020

  • While we have tried to respond to questions quickly and thoroughly over email and social media, we understand that it can be confusing to know where to go for answers. To address that, we have started compiling answers to Frequently Asked Questions in a single, searchable document. We are committed to keeping you up-to-date with information as it comes available, and look forward to answering any questions that you may have. Thank you all for your continued patience and support.

August 2, 2020

  • Last week, the district released a tentative calendar for the 2020-2021 school year that included three “Remote Learning Days” specified in the countywide Return to Learn Plan. A Remote Learning Day is a day of school when students or teachers are not physically present in a traditional classroom environment. Teaching and learning occur through technology, such as Zoom, Hangouts, Seesaw, or Google Classroom. The three “Remote Learning Wednesdays” scheduled on September 16, 23, and 30 were intentionally planned by districts throughout the county to provide teachers and students the opportunity to practice the transition between in-person and remote learning if/when necessary later in the year.

July 31, 2020

  • For schools to safely receive needed information from families to start the year, the district will require online registration to be completed in Skyward for each new and returning student before starting school. In alignment with the countywide plan, that registration will ask families to select either “In-Person” or “Virtual” learning for the 2020-2021 school year. Online registration will open on August 5th. Further information, including directions for completing this registration, will be sent from school principals next week. For more information about our virtual options for all students in grades K-12, please visit bcschools.online.

July 27, 2020

  • The Board of Education tonight voted to approve the Bay Arenac ISD Return to Learn Plan. The summary of that plan can be read here. Additional information will be provided as it comes available over the following weeks.

July 20, 2020

  • Here is an update from the BAISD district collaborative working on our "Return to Learn" plans for the fall. The full plan is expected to be released next week.

July 13, 2020

  • Districts in Bay and Arenac County are working together on a collaborative COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan for the 2020-2021 school year. Details of that plan will be shared in late July or early August. For more information, see the joint statement released by the districts.

June 8, 2020

  • With the 2019-2020 school year now over, school buildings have begun collecting BCPS Chromebooks and Hotspots that were checked out by families to stay connected during the emergency closure. To ensure all district-owned devices are back in buildings to be prepped for students next year, we need your help by dropping off any devices you have in your possession to your child’s school. Dates and times for school drop-off can be found here. Please see school communication for details.

April 20, 2020

April 18, 2020

  • To help parents navigate the weeks ahead, we have created a Learning Relaunch calendar illustrating which lessons will be provided each day through the remainder of the school year.

April 17, 2020

  • We have created a Getting Started Guide for Parents to go along with this graphic shared yesterday to help parents prepare for the "Learning Relaunch" to begin on Monday, April 20, 2020. Parents should be hearing from teachers this week and over the weeked. If not, or for general questions about our plan, please feel free to reach out at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

April 16, 2020

  • The district has created this graphic as a quick overview of what to expect next week as part of our "Learning Relaunch" through the end of the year.

April 15, 2020

  • Superintendent Bigelow has released information for parents regarding promotion, grades, and credit for the second semester to align with the governor's order. Read it here.
  • We are pleased to share that the Bay Arenac Intermediate School District has approved our Continuity of Learning and COVID-19 Response Plan. Our Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology will be providing detailed information regarding the plan tomorrow.

April 6, 2020

  • We have reopened signup for Student Chromebook Checkout. For more information, and for the link to signup, click here.

April 3, 2020

  • The College Board has posted dates for Advanced Placement exams that can be taken from home. Exams will be given from May 11-22 with makeups scheduled for June 1-5. A complete schedule of exams is available here. Most AP exams will have one or two free-response questions. Students will need to write and submit their responses within an allotted time for each question. For more information about this year's exam and available study sessions for each subject, visit the College Board website. Students who lack the tools and/or connectivity they need to review AP content online and take the exam are encouraged to let the College Board know before April 24. 
  • Superintendent Bigelow today issued the district response to yesterday's news that in-person K-12 instruction is suspended through the remainder of the school year. We are working collaborativley with neighboring districts, local partners, and our ISD to provide a more structured online program tentatively set to begin on April 20, 2020. More information will be shared as additional information is gathered and our plans develop.

April 2, 2020

  • Included in Governor Whitmer's Executive Order 2020-35 today was expected news that state assessments were suspended for the 2019-2020 school year. The order also includes news that the SAT and PSAT will be offered in the fall for those students who missed out on taking it this spring.
  • Governor Whitmer today issued Executive Order 2020-35, suspending in-person K-12 instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. District leaders are meeting this afternoon to discuss the details of this order and to continue planning for support of students and their families through the remainder of the school year.

March 27, 2020

March 24, 2020

  • In an effort to increase opportunities for students to stay connected during the emergency closure of schools, Bay City Public Schools will be providing Chromebooks for student check-out beginning Friday, March 27, 2020. Click here to learn more.

March 23, 2020

  • Superintendent Bigelow has issued an update in light of Governor Whitmer's executive order. Bay City Public Schools will continue providing free meals during the emergency shutdown. This includes our scheduled "Spring Break."
  • Governor Whitmer today signed the Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order, "directing all Michigan businesses and operations to temporarily suspend in-person operations ... for at least the next three weeks." This means schools must remain closed through April 13. We will provide further information as it unfolds.

March 20, 2020

  • The U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, said in a press release today that states requesting relief from federally-mandated standardized testing would be granted. We are still waiting for an official response from the State of Michigan.
  • The College Board has provided an update on their plans to provide online support for Advanced Placement students, and online testing with two different testing dates to be announced by April 3. The full update is available on their website. Our memo to students, parents, and staff can be read here.

March 19, 2020

  • For ideas on schoolwork, projects, and crafts, visit our new at-home learning landing site for BCPS parents, “The Kids are Home...Now What?” on S’more at https://www.smore.com/3snt9.

March 17, 2020

  • We have received a number of inquiries regarding the status of M-Step, PSAT, SAT, and AP testing in light of school closures. Unfortunately, we are waiting for more information from the State of Michigan and the College Board. We will post information here as it comes available.

March 16, 2020

  • Beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020, we will be providing two breakfasts and two lunches to each student every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Schedules and pickup locations are available here.

March 13, 2020

  • In accord with the Governor's directive to close schools, all of Bay City Public Schools will be closed as of Monday, March 16, 2020. Bay City Public Schools is expected to resume school on Monday, April 6, 2020.

  • We have closed all of our buildings and faciliites for deep cleaning during the emergency closure. We are not permitting the public into our buildings but understand there may be unique circumstances where entrance is needed (medication, etc.). Please contact your building administrator to make arrangements if necessary.

  • Our Nutrition Services and Transportation Departments are working together to organize food distribution to serve our community. We are planning on distributing meals from seven (7) sites, located in school parking lots, throughout the district. Location details and times are still being determined. More information will be provided regarding the program by Monday afternoon with the goal of distributing meals beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

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