Granite City students return to classrooms in person. But for how much longer?

The superintendent of Granite City schools warned families on Monday that the school district may need to go remote at some point.

“Today we were able to fully staff our schools and buses, but I wanted to make everyone aware of the potential of an adaptive pause to in-person school for our students,” Superintendent Stephanie Cann wrote in a letter to staff and families.

Metro-east schools are returning from winter break this week, but with the new omicron variant of COVID-19 and major spikes in cases at the local, state and national level, some are having to change course.

While classes are still in-person, Granite City 9 announced Monday that there will be no spectators allowed at sports or other extracurriculars, including parents.

Here’s what some other area school districts are doing as students return from winter break:

• Belleville Township High School District 201 is extending its winter break by one day, and students will be remote Wednesday through Friday. The district will re-evaluate local data over the weekend, according to a robocall sent by the district Monday.
• Cahokia School District 187 students will be remote through Jan. 14, according to a letter sent to parents.
• East St. Louis School District 189 students will return to the classroom on Tuesday, Jan. 18, according to a press release from the district. Students will be learning remotely until then.
• Edwardsville CUSD 7 will keep its older students remote this week, while K-5 students attend class in-person, as scheduled. The district will re-evaluate local data on Friday.