Two weeks ago when Manchester Community Schools shared their Return to School Plan, Manchester was one of about half of the public school districts in Washtenaw County not requiring masks indoors. At that time, the county's COVID-19 transmission rate was "Moderate." Last week, as our county’s COVID-19 transmission level has risen to “High,” things changed and now our district is the only school district in Washtenaw County not requiring masks indoors at any grade level. 

When asked why, Superintendent, Dr. Brad Bezeau stated, “Currently, we are strongly recommending masks in all grades, but not mandating this. This could certainly change as we continue to monitor any positive cases and close contacts within our school community and surrounding community.” The schools are monitoring the Washtenaw County Health Department’s COVID-19 data page and meeting with them bi-weekly for updates, as well as taking into consideration any cases reported directly to the schools.

But, for now it comes down to statewide or county mandates. The superintendent has stated repeatedly, “The Washtenaw County Health Department (WCHD) or Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have not yet made an order or mandate requiring masks, and we will always be in full compliance with all orders and mandates.”

The State of Michigan has made it clear that no mandates will be coming from the state level, but what about the County level? In their recently updated K-12 School Recommendations, WCHD states that during periods of “High” transmission, universal masking in K-12 schools “is required” and that at that level the Health Department will consider a local mandate.

Is a local mandate to require masks in school coming? No, or at least, not for now. Most of the students in the county are already covered.

Susan Ringler-Cerniglia of WCHD states, “We’re not currently preparing an order, but haven’t ruled it out. We’re also considering the proportion of students already covered by requirements (currently most). Ideally, we want our strong recommendation as the Health Department during a pandemic to be taken seriously and treated as a requirement.” She went on to add that enforcement through existing school policy and procedure is preferable to enforcement under a health order. 

The Health Department wants their "strong recommendation" to be treated as a requirement, but hasn't at this time issued a mandate. Meanwhile, Manchester Community Schools isn't treating the "strong recommendation" as a requirement, and is instead waiting for a mandate.

While our neighbors to the the north and east are masking up, no school districts in Lenawee County or Jackson County are requiring masks, either. Jackson County Schools's unified stance is by design. Their consistent masking policy across the county is to prevent districts from gaining or losing students through School of Choice because of masking. Manchester’s masking policy being out of step with the rest of the county’s does open the door to that possibility. 

Manchester students who want a school with masking required would have to drive to Milan to find the nearest district that is currently accepting School of Choice students, but students in Chelsea, Saline or even Ann Arbor who were opposed to masking could enroll in Manchester as we are currently accepting School of Choice students. Although School of Choice changes may be hasty, the changes to policy in the nearest districts may be temporary as they are dependent on transmission levels. There is no guarantee that Manchester won’t move to universal masking at some point as well. 

With our school district bordered to the south and west by non-masking districts, would mandating masks in Manchester gain us students from those districts? Or, because those schools also currently accept School of Choice students, would Manchester mandating masks open us up to losing students to those districts?

In addition to offering a full virtual option again this year, Manchester Community Schools Is doing those things that it is required to do to protect its community from COVID. For example, MCS is enforcing the CDC order that requires face coverings on school bus transportation. It is also complying with the requirement to notify the local health department of new cases and performing contact tracing as required by the Michigan Public Health Code. And they are following the MDHHS Order, which requires schools to post data about case counts on their websites.

Dr. Bezeau also pointed out that standard school infectious disease policies mandate requires students and staff to stay home when sick.