News Photo by Crystal Nelson Alpena resident Katy Samp, pictured right, on Tuesday picks up her daughters Kylie Fitzwater, middle, and Leah Fitzwater, left, from Lincoln Elementary School.

ALPENA — In-person learning resumed for Alpena Public Schools students on Monday, after they spent the last two weeks learning remotely from their homes.

“It feels really good, we’re all happy,” Alpena resident Katy Samp said as she picked her daughters up from school on Tuesday.

Samp is able to work from home while her daughters, third grader Kylie Fitzwater and first grader Leah Fitzwater attended school remotely. Samp said the girls missed their friends and were happy to be back in school.

“So far things are going well as far as coming back,” Alpena Public Schools Superintendent Dave Rabbideau said. “Kids are happy to be back, staff is happy to be back and it sounds like things are going well at all of our schools.”

Students transitioned to remote learning on April 20 because of a forecasted increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Alpena as well as a steady increase of positive school associated cases district wide.

Local public health officials on Tuesday reported 22 Northeast Michigan residents were either infected or probably infected with COVID-19, including 14 Alpena County residents, four Presque Isle County residents, one Montmorency County resident, and three Alcona County residents.

Rabbideau said district officials hope in-person learning continues through the end of the school year. The last day of school is May 21 for seniors and June 4 for the rest of the students.

Meanwhile, Rabbideau said 55 COVID-19 rapid tests were administered Saturday at the Thunder Bay Junior High School.

Of those tests administered, Rabbideau said five test results — about 9% of those tested — came back positive. The five positive cases might sound like a small number, but Rabbideau said the percentage was still much higher than district officials want to see.

Rapid testing will continue at the junior high school from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

“It gives those people good information,” he said. “They can then make the right decision on Monday to stay home to quarantine as needed.”