Educators and parents concerned over reports of schools closing

YEAR -- OR IF IT'S ALREADY OVER.GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER SAYS..SHE WILL ANNOUNCE HER DECISIONTHURSDAY.SHE SAYS... SHE HASN'T MADE UPHER MIND YET -- BUT KNOWSMILLIONS OF STUDENTS AND PARENTSWANT AN ANSWER NOW."TRUST ME AS A PARENT WITH ASENIOR AND A JUNIOR MYSELF I'MHEARING THE QUESTIONS INSIDE MYOWNHOUSEHOLD.

BUT IT'S MOSTIMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE HAVE GOTA REAL PLAN TO MEET THEEDUCATIONALNEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, THAT WESUPPORT OUR TEACHERS AND THAT WEMAKE DECISIONS BASED ONWHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OFOUR KIDS, NOT WHAT'S MOSTCONVENIENT, NOT WHAT'S MOSTHELPFULTO ONE GROUP OR ANOTHER.

THIS ISABOUT THE EDUCATION OF OURCHILDREN AND THAT'S WHAT'SPARAMOUNT."WE TOLD YOU LAST NIGHT --"BRIDGE MAGAZINE" REPORTED THEGOVERNOR WILL CLOSE SCHOOLS FORTHE REST OF THE YEAR... ANDREQUIRE SOME SORT OF ONLINE-LEARNING COMPONENT FOR THEREMAINING MONTHS.THAT HAS SOME PARENTS ANDADMINISTRATORS WONDERING EXACTLYHOW IT'S GOING TO WORK.FOX 47'S MAUREEN HALLIDAY HASTHE STORY."WE'VE GOT ONE COMPUTER AND FOURKIDS.

SO THATS THE HARD PART ISTRYING TO REGULATE THEM SO EACHONE IS DOING AN HOUR OR TWO PERCHILD AND IT CONSUMES THE WHOLEDAY."SOME PARENTS AND EDUCATORS AREWORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OFREQUIRED ONLINECLASSES... AND ABOUT HOW POORINTERNET CONNECTIONS COULDAFFECT THEM."THERE ARE MANY MANY DEAD AREASAND WHETHER IF PEOPLE HAVE THEEQUIPMENT OR NOT THEY DONOT HAVE THAT CONSISTANTACCESSIBILITY FOR THE INTERNET."BUTTTEACHERS HAVE A LOT TO KEEP UPWITH--ESPECIALLY IF A STUDENTNEEDS HELP ON AN ASSIGNMENT."TEACHERS WOULD HAVE OFFICEHOURS SO TO SPEAK,.

SO IF KIDSHAD QUESTIONS THEY COULDEMAIL THE TEACHER IF THEY HADQUESTIONS ABOUT A PARTICULARLESSON OR ASSIGNMENT AND SO ON"BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDSTHAT NEED HELP--COMMUNICATION ISNOT ALWASY INSTANT."THEY ARE WORKING WITH THEMQUITE A BIT BUT IT'S NOT THEINSTANT MESSAGES IT'S NOT THEINSTANTANSWERS THEY NEED TO GET.

THEYHAVE TO WAIT FOR THER TEACHER TORESPOND AND IF THEY STILLDON'T UNDERSTAND IT IT'SMESSAGING AGAIN.

ITS BACK ANDFOURTH, BACK AND FOURTH QUITE AFEW TIMES."LORI SAYS HER KIDS JUST WANT TOGO BACK."THEY'RE BEYOND BEORED.

THEYWANT TO GO BACK.

TEHY WANT TOVISIT THEIR FRIENDS AND BE WITHTHEIRFRIENDS.

THEY LOVE SCHOOL."MAUREEN HALLIDAY, FOX 47 NEWSTHE GOVERNOR ISN'T COMMENTING ONTHE SPECIFICS OF THE REPORT THATCAME OUTLAST NIGHT -- INCLUDING THESUGGESTION THAT SENIORS WILLGRADUATE... ANDEVERYONE ELSE WILL MOVE UP AGRADE.WE WILL LET YOU KNOW AS SOON ASTHE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES HERDECISI