As talk of temporarily closing schools for in-person classes has grown in recent weeks, state Rep. Ken Borton of Gaylord today issued the following statement repeating his support for Northern Michigan families and emphasizing the importance of keeping schools open:

“The pandemic threw students off their educational course, and we need to do everything possible to help them bounce back and succeed. In-person classes are such an important element of learning for many students. We can’t ignore COVID-19 — which is why I recently supported more resources for treatments and tests — but our local schools need to stay open to serve Michigan young people. I will continue to stand with parents and students in Northern Michigan by supporting in-person education.”

Borton recently voted for plans to provide additional resources in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.