MARQUETTE — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday signed an executive order creating the Student Recovery Advisory Council of Michigan, which will provide guidance and recommendations to ensure Michigan students have the tools and resources needed to move forward during the COVID-19 crisis.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Michigan hard, and our students, families, teachers and school staff have all felt the strain,” Whitmer said in a statement. “Still, our educators have worked tirelessly to teach our children during this pandemic under the most stressful conditions, and for that our state is forever indebted to them for their service.

“It is important to remember that schools also provide other services that students need to succeed including reliable access to the internet, nutritious meals and mental health supports. COVID-19 has exacerbated inequities in our education system, and we know more work is needed to address the significant impact this pandemic has had on our children. This council will be integral to ensuring our students and educators are equipped with everything they need to thrive.”

In the summer of 2020, Whitmer launched the Return to School Advisory Council, which developed a framework to inform K-12 districts planning for the 2020-21 school year. This past month, the governor’s administration prioritized educators for vaccine distribution in Michigan, in order to get kids back in school and put the state on a path to recovery.

“It is an honor to serve as the chairperson of the Student Recovery Advisory Council,” said Kevin Polston, chair of the Student Recovery Advisory Council, in a statement. “Last summer, this collaborative group of engaged citizens developed the MI Safe School Roadmap, which was vital to supporting in-person learning. We look forward to ‘fixing the road ahead’ for the state of Michigan through a safe, equitable and high-performance educational system that provides access and opportunity for each child to reach their full potential.”

Housed within the Department of Technology, Management and Budget, the council will be composed of 29 members from diverse backgrounds who are appointed by the governor. The council is tasked with:

≤ Developing and submitting recommendations to the governor, state school superintendent and state budget director regarding student recovery;

≤ Recommending actions to develop and improve systems for academic support for students who experienced learning loss due to COVID-19;

≤ Recommending actions to develop and improve systems for mental and physical health for students impacted by COVID-19;

≤ Recommending actions to develop and improve systems to support high school students transitioning into post-secondary education;

≤ Recommending actions to develop and improve out-of-school time supports, including, but not limited to, summer school, before- and after-school programs, and extended school years;

≤ Assembling critical voices from the education and public health communities to assist in identifying key challenges students face due to the pandemic;

≤ Providing other information or advice or take other actions as requested by the governor; and

≤ Reporting regularly to the governor on its activities and make recommendations on an ongoing basis.

The individuals appointed to the council, according to the governor’s office, reflect the diverse geographic and demographic composition of the state and represent parents, students, school leaders, educators, individuals with expertise in public health, pediatrics, mental health and community members.

One of the appointees is Travis Smith, principal of Cherry Creek Elementary School in the Marquette Area Public Schools. He holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology and special education and a master’s of education in special education from Grand Valley State University, education specialist in administration and supervision from Northern Michigan University, and a doctor of education in educational leadership from Central Michigan University.

Smith is appointed to represent school leaders.

“I look forward to serving the students, families and educators of the Upper Peninsula toward a path of recovery through the lens of education,” Smith said in a phone interview.

The advisory council will also include members of the Michigan Legislature.

The council will serve until Dec. 31.

Allergic reactions rare

Aspirus Health said that for most people, the worst part about getting a COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be a sore arm — but there have been rare occasions where people who received the vaccine have had severe allergic reactions.

It said that out of the millions of people who have received their first COVID-19 shot, health officials have indicated that only a small fraction have experienced a severe reaction, known as anaphylaxis.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis can include a swollen throat, shortness of breath, upset stomach, diarrhea, passing out and itching and swelling.

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening condition, said Aspirus, which noted that’s why providers ask people to wait around for 15 to 30 minutes after you get your shot.

“You are monitored during this time to make sure you don’t have any reactions,” said Fawn Papatriantafyllou, pharmacist for Aspirus Health, in a news release. “If you do, our vaccine clinics have medicines on hand to quickly treat an allergic reaction.”

Anyone who has symptoms like these after leaving the vaccine clinic should call 911.

Aspirus said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising health care providers to take special precautions with people who have had a reaction to any other vaccines or injected medicines in the past.

“If you fall into that group, it does not necessarily mean you should not get a COVID-19 vaccine,” Papatriantafyllou said. “You should talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits in your case. Your doctor can help you decide what is best.”

Aspirus said the CDC noted that individuals might be at risk for a reaction if they have had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine. In those cases, those specific vaccines should be avoided. Another risk group involves individuals who have had a severe allergic reaction to the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. They then should talk with their doctors for advice.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reported that individuals with common allergies to medications, foods, inhalants, insects and latex are no more likely than the general public to have an allergic reaction to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Those patients should be informed of the benefits of the vaccine versus its risks, it said.

Aspirus recommends people sign up for the CDC’s V-safe program after getting their vaccines. The program will send personalized text messages to a person’s smartphone to check on any side effects and it will issue a reminder when it’s time for the second dose, if needed.

People may sign up for the After Vaccination Health Checker on the Aspirus website at aspirus.org or on the CDC website at https://vsafe.cdc.gov/.

NMU gives latest case count

Northern Michigan University’s COVID-19 reporting dashboard, found at nmu.edu/safe-on-campus/dashboard, showed there were 42 winter semester COVID-19 positive cases between Jan. 4 and Thursday — 27 off-campus students, 10 on-campus students and five employees.

As of Thursday, there were 11 active positive cases that involve five off-campus students, five on-campus students and one employee.