TRI-CITY AREA — COVID-related issues have caused two school districts to amend their instructional plans for next week.

At their meeting on Thursday night, the Capac School Board voted to move the Jr./Sr. High School to remote instruction next week, March 22-April 9, due to rising virus and quarantine numbers.

Yesterday, Imlay City Schools announced that classes have been cancelled for Friday, March 26, in anticipation of 70 staff members receiving their second COVID-19 vaccine on March 25 and, potentially experiencing post-vaccination reactions.

In a letter to parents, Imlay City Supt. Dr. Stu Cameron said of the 70 due to receive a shot next week, 53 have instructional positions. Combine that with an ongoing substitute teacher shortage and the district anticipates they would not be able to find sufficient staff for classes that day.

“Given all of these factors, we are proactively cancelling school on Friday, the 26th,” Cameron wrote.

“We believe this will prevent an inevitable short-notice emergency closure that morning that would not allow families adequate time to plan for child care, and make other arrangements as needed for their children.”

Both districts will be off for spring break March 29-April 2.