Dear Parents, Students, and Community Members,
We are thrilled to announce that, after 8 days of being out of school due to the ice storm, we are finally returning to school tomorrow! This is a step in the right direction as we aim to bring our students back into the normal routine. We understand that this has been a challenging time for many of our families, and we are grateful for your patience and support.
First and foremost, we would like to extend our deepest thanks to the First Responders and Linemen who are still working tirelessly to restore power to our community. As of today, over 1,000 electrical poles have been replaced, and we recognize the immense effort they have put into helping our residents recover from this storm.
Regarding our busing situation, we had a very productive meeting with our Bus Drivers this morning. They are prepared to start their routes on time tomorrow but have been instructed to drive with extra caution. Due to this, and the need to allow extra time for students at the pickup points, we do anticipate some delays, particularly for those at the end of the routes. We kindly ask that parents expect later than usual arrival times for the buses, especially for those at the end of the routes.
If you are a regular bus rider but plan to drive your child to school tomorrow, please contact the Bus Barn so we can make the necessary adjustments to our routes. Additionally, if you see any issues or have concerns related to bus routes, especially areas with potential obstacles or difficult terrain, please contact the Bus Barn this afternoon. The more information we can gather, the better prepared we will be for tomorrow morning's route.
To stay informed about road conditions, we encourage you to use the road map created and updated by the county Emergency Services Team. We check this daily for updates. You can access it as well, here: Cheboygan County Emergency Services Map.
We also ask our Bus Drivers to give their buses a thorough check-up this afternoon, as they have not been in use for 2.5 weeks. This is an added precaution to ensure everything is in working order for tomorrow's routes.
While we are eager to have our students back in school, we also understand that some may still be facing challenges at home. Please know that we have counselors and social workers available to support students, should they need assistance. If you are experiencing any difficulties or have concerns about your child, do not hesitate to reach out to your building principal tomorrow.
For families who are not currently participating in the Friday Food Program, and would like to, please contact your Principal. Although the food bags will start being sent home routinely next Friday, if you need food immediately, please visit the Inverness Academy Office this Friday, where we will be handing out weekend food bags for anyone in need.
We are excited to welcome our students back to school, where we will provide them with breakfast, lunch, warmth, and hopefully, a little bit of learning on top of all of that. Thank you again for your continued patience and support.
Stay safe, stay warm, and we look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!
Spencer S. Byrd - Superintendent, Cheboygan Area Schools
Questions? Bus Garage phone number: 231-627-4422
Tammy <kaget@chebschools.com>/Steve <flemings@chebschools.com>