OKEMOS - The Okemos Board of Trustees held their second of two monthly School Board meetings on Monday. One of the biggest topics discussed was the "Safe Return to School" plan amid the Covid-19 pandemic:

"This pandemic continues to provide very real challenges to our working families...[it] has been difficult for us to navigate," explained an Okemos School Board of Trustees member.

One of the aspects of the back to school plan includes a new HVAC system for air conditioning, heating, and cooling.

The Okemos School Board approved a plan for the HVAC system, which will cost roughly $539,000. The HVAC will be funded by the COVID grant received by the federal government.

The process will begin this week, with dynamic filters being built for the needlepoint system. It will take about four to six weeks.

To mitigate the risk of an in-school outbreak, the Okemos School Board will take precautions including limiting the number of students able to attend in-person. All in-person students will be required to be vaccinated.

For families struggling to feed their kids during the pandemic, Okemos Public Schools will continue to offer their monthly meal distribution plan.

Self Contained Grades Pre-K through four and Special Education will resume class on March 8, with K through 1 resuming on March 11, and five through 12 on March 15.

For more information on the Okemos Public Schools "Safe Return to School" plan, visit their website at okemos12.net.