WASHTENAW INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT

ANN ARBOR, MI - A few days after officially opening for in-person classes on Tuesday, Jan. 18, students can be seen gleefully test-driving their wheelchairs and mobility equipment down the extra-wide hallways of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District’s new High Point School. Hallways throughout the 130,000-square-foot facility have been pushed out to allow students to park their wheelchairs and mobility equipment and still keep them clear and open. The halls also are filled with natural light, WISD Spokesperson Ashley Kryscynski said, while pointing up at the artistic, sculpture-like structures suspended from the ceiling.

ANN ARBOR, MI - Naomi Norman admits there wasn’t exactly a roadmap for the role she stepped into when she agreed to be the Washtenaw Intermediate School District’s interim superintendent at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The argument could be made, however, that few were more qualified to lead the WISD during a time of uncertainty, given the variety of roles Norman has had with the district the past 27 years.

ANN ARBOR, MI - A lawsuit filed by families of four Ann Arbor Public Schools students claims the district did not provide adequate special education services during the more than 15 months of remote instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Related: Lawsuit claims Ann Arbor schools didn’t provide adequate special education services during pandemicWho filed the lawsuit and who is named in the lawsuit? The lawsuit was filed on behalf of four AAPS special needs students, who are ages 7, 9, 10 and 12. The complaint asks a federal judge to certify the suit as a class action claim representing all Michigan students who receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. READ MORE:In-person learning coming to Ann Arbor Public Schools in MarchWith mental health struggles looming, Ann Arbor Public Schools students organize rally for in-person learning

Washtenaw County will operate a number of pop-up vaccination sites for residents age 12+ throughout May.

ANN ARBOR, MI - Free COVID-19 rapid testing is available this weekend in a drive-through testing event hosted by the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. Testing is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 3, at the WISD, 1819 S Wagner Road, Ann Arbor. Testing is available to adults and children using a contactless, saliva-based antigen test. For anyone who tests positive, PCR tests will be available on-site to confirm their results. We’re encouraging community members to come to this free drive-thru testing site as part of their post-spring break plans,” Washtenaw Intermediate School District Spokesperson Ashley Kryscynski said.

(AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – The Washtenaw Superintendents’ Association has issued a statement calling to increase vaccine supplies for teachers in the county’s public school districts. According to a recent survey of educators by Michigan Education Association, only 25.6% of respondents in Washtenaw County had received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. WSA represents the superintendents of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and the following nine public school districts: Ann Arbor Public Schools; Chelsea School District; Dexter Community Schools; Lincoln Consolidated Schools; Manchester Community Schools; Milan Area Schools; Saline Area Schools; Whitmore Lake Public Schools and Ypsilanti Community Schools. Washtenaw County superintendents have taken every opportunity to collectively advocate on behalf of our school communities at the local, state, and federal levels. We call on local Washtenaw County leaders to continue to keep equity at the center of everything we do, including our vaccination efforts.

(CBS DETROIT) – Residents of Detroit, Inkster, Flint and Washtenaw County will soon benefit from expanded free Wi-Fi access at more than 50 community locations across S.E. The Flint School District has the second highest number with 14,221 households without internet access. Internet access at community sites is powered and secured by Cisco’s next-generation Wi-Fi and cloud security technology. If your community, private or philanthropic organization is interested in supporting local Community Access Network sites, please contact moonshot@merit.edu . ABOUT WASHTENAW INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICTWashtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD) is the educational service agency for Washtenaw County, Michigan, serving nine public school districts and the public school academies in the greater Ann Arbor region.

On July 20, WISD will launch Safe Schools Washtenaw, a donation drive to collect hard-to-find items like personal protective equipment, disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer for students and school employees. Safe Schools Washtenaw is also raising $500,000 to donate to 108 Washtenaw County schools so that they can purchase additional supplies and PPE in order to meet new state COVID-19 guidelines. Community members and businesses can participate by dropping-off donated items, purchasing items from the Safe Schools Washtenaw Amazon Wishlist or donating funds to WISD. Cash or check donations to Safe Schools Washtenaw can be made to: Washtenaw Intermediate School District Safe Schools Washtenaw c/o Sarah Hierman, 1819 S. Wagner Road, P.O. For more information regarding Safe Schools Washtenaw, visit www.washtenawisd.org/covid-19/safe-schools-washtenaw.