M.P.S. updates mask policy; says each building has cases of COVID-19
MIDLAND, Mich. — Midland Public Schools announced today a change to its mask policy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All K-6 students will now be required to wear masks indoors at all times, except while eating lunch, and masks will be strongly recommended outdoors.
Students in grade 7-12 will be “highly encouraged” to wear masks, the new policy says. The move comes after the district said there is a documented classroom spread in “a few” classrooms and positive cases of COVID-19 in each of the district’s school buildings.
The district said that masks will be available for students who need one. All individuals riding a school bus must wear a mask at all times, per a federal order.
“The requirement to wear a mask protects those students whose parents have not been afforded the choice to have their child(ren) vaccinated due to the lack of access to approved vaccines for students under the age of 12. The MCDPH has reviewed these protocols and fully supports the masking of M.P.S. students under 12 years of age,” said Superintendent Michael Sharrow and Midland County Department of Public Health Director Fred Yanoski in a joint statement. “MPS, MCDPH and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also continue to recommend masking for all of our students and staff as well as strongly recommending vaccination for all who are eligible.”
Michael Westendorf is the chairman and executive editor of Chemical City Paper. As Executive Editor, he leads the City Paper’s news coverage and editorial team.