By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
For the past two months, Plainwell Community Schools has required all students and staff members to wear masks while inside all district building during the instructional day due to high numbers of positive COVID-19 cases and quarantines.
PCS superintendent Matthew Montange announced changes to the mask policy in a letter to parents and guardians on Monday, Feb. 7.
Beginning Tuesday, Feb.8, masks are no longer mandated at all district buildings. Rather, masking requirements will be based on a per-building absence rate.
If a total of 10 percent or more of students and staff members are a absent from a particular building due to either a positive COVID test or a COVID quarantine, then masks will be required at that building during the instructional day for 10 days.
Should the absence rate continue to exceed 10 percent, the mask requirement could be extended at the affected building.
As has been the case, masks would not be required when outside or during extra-curricular activities. Due to federal mandate, masks are still required when using district transportation.
Additional exceptions for mask wearing include:
- Persons in the act of eating or drinking.
- Persons under the age of five years; however, supervised masking is strongly recommended.
- Students with developmental conditions of any age attending school, although supervised masking is encouraged.
- Teachers who are working with children who are hard of hearing or students with developmental conditions who benefit from facial cues.
- A person with a disability who cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, because of the disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and Michigan Persons with Disabilities Act.
The new policy is similar to the one implemented last month by Otsego Public Schools, which also uses a per-building absence rate of 10 percent or greater to determine when face coverings will be required.
PCS first implemented a district-wide mask requirement beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 8, with the policy originally scheduled to be in place through Friday, Jan. 14. But on Monday, Jan.17, the requirement was extended through Feb.7.
Parents and guardians were reminded to keep their children home and have them tested if they are exhibiting any COVID symptoms. Any positive cases should continue to be reported to the appropriate building administrator or administrative assistant.
While masks are no longer required in all PCS buildings at this time, they remain optional for students and staff who choose to wear them.
