DEARBORN — Dearborn’s Board of Education voted to extend the district’s virtual learning at its Sept. 14 board meeting.

The school year started on Aug. 31 with the idea of returning to classrooms on Oct. 1.

The city of Dearborn has continued to have a high number of COVID-19 cases per resident in recent weeks and according to the school district’s website, the board did not feel it was safe for the community to return to in-person learning.

The district’s website also said that of its 21,000 students, about one-fifth of them are enrolled in virtual learning and the rest of the students will return to in-person learning once the board approves the reopening of schools.

With the board’s decision, weekly free meal distribution will continue on Fridays until at least Oct. 9. Food is available for any district student or any child under 18 in the household and can be picked up from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bryant Middle School, Dearborn High School, Edsel Ford High School, Fordson High School, Henry Ford Elementary, the Dearborn Heights Campus (Howe/STEM/Berry Center), Lowrey School, Maples Elementary, McCollough-Unis, McDonald Elementary, Miller Elementary, Salina Intermediate, Smith Middle School, Stout Middle School and Woodworth Middle School.

The Board of Education will revisit the issue of reopening schools again at its next meeting on Oct. 12. at 7 p.m. The meeting will be broadcast live on the district’s YouTube and cable channels, and community members will be able to submit comments online.