Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer elaborated on her vision for schools to return to in-person learning starting Monday, but not all parents and students are on board with being in a classroom.
Lighthouse Connections Academy in Troy is one school that won't be returning to in-person learning, because it's all online. Ahead of its time, you can attend the school from anywhere.
Thursday is National Digital Learning Day, something that schools across the country have become accustomed to over the past two school years now.
On Wednesday, Whitmer expressed what it takes to get back into school buildings safely for the remainder of the year, officially starting Monday. "Schools are encouraged to utilize all available space, including gyms, cafeterias, and multi-purpose rooms to facilitate learning," Whitmer said.
The governor laid the ground rules for a three-tiered approach: Wearing masks, social distancing, and washing hands.
But those rules won't be a concern for Aiden Timloski, who attends Lighthouse Connections Academy. "It's all online," Aiden's dad, Don Timloski, said. "We do have live lessons that he can attend. He can do one-on-ones with his teacher, various teachers, but he can do self-paced learning as well."
It's a convenient feature for Aiden and his family because Aiden is an eSports professional. This past summer, he said he was able to travel to Virginia to live with teammates. "Once I got there, I was still able to do school even a thousand miles away from Michigan, and I was able to finish schooling out without missing any school, without being behind or anything like that," he said. "It was a seamless transition from traveling from Michigan to Virginia."
The governor said 97% of schools plan to offer some form of in-person learning by Monday.