(La Porte County, IN)  Area schools are gearing up for a new year like ships heading toward an iceberg-hopeful, but uncertain.

In Michigan City, officials have already decided to begin school online only. Students should already have their Chromebooks and will be picking up textbooks and other materials next week.

At New Prairie, leaders hope low COVID numbers in their district will continue. The school board there decided Thursday morning to proceed with plans for partial attendance.  They say they'll opt for in-person learning of some sort, as long as infection rates stay below 10%, as per health department guidelines.  Right now, officials say infections within the district are below 1%. Contact tracing standards are also in place for when COVID cases are reported among students in attendance.  School starts at New Prairie on August 13. Half of the alphabet will report Thursday, the other half Friday. They will alternate their attendance thereafter.

La Porte Schools, like Michigan City, is slated to start August 24.  La Porte's school board will meet again Monday night to assess the COVID situation and adjust their start plans accordingly. Superintendent Mark Francesconi says they will be usnig  the same infection percentage standards that New Prairie is following.