(STURGIS) – Sturgis Public Schools has released a communication with families in the district on future plans for students.

Sturgis Schools Superintendent Dr. Art Ebert says it is essential to keep the community up to date as the District makes changes to their Back To School Plan. Additionally, he feels that it is important to look ahead and be prepared, because COVID-19 cases will eventually come back down.

Ebert says effective as of January 4, all Option 1 Sturgis Middle School and High School students will start the second semester in an every other day hybrid schedule, unless the State has elevated restrictions like we are currently experiencing.

All Option A Sturgis Middle School and High School students will transition to five full days of in person school per week when the 7 day average of COVID-19 cases in St. Joseph County is at or below 8.5 cases per day. This will occur on the first school day during the week, directly after the 8.5 cases per day threshold has been reached. If the cases per day goes back to 10 or more, then students will revert to the hybrid scheduling.

Ebert says they will take a few more weeks before making a decision regarding what the daily bell schedule will look like when they eventually transition to five full days of in person school per week at the Middle School and High School. They are holding off on this decision to see how staff and students like the block schedule that Sturgis High School is currently using. They hope to have a decision by December 8.

Students will have the ability to switch from Option A to B or from Option B to A between December 1 and 17. The transition in placement, for those students that switch options will occur on January 4.