Mt. Pleasant schools will require masks

MT. PLEASANT - As the Mt. Pleasant Community school board reviewed various return-to-learn instruction models at its work session on Monday evening, the issue of requiring face coverings in a face-to-face model was heavily discussed.

In a survey sent to staff and faculty of the district that garnered 231 responses, nearly 50 percent, said they felt strongly that face coverings should be required for all staff. 31 percent indicated they didn't feel particularly partial either way and 19 percent said they felt face coverings should not be required.

The survey asked staff to indicate how strongly they felt about requiring students to wear coverings. 44 percent felt strongly that students should wear coverings, 32 percent did not feel strongly either way, and 23 percent felt students should not be required to wear face coverings.

The same survey sent out to families received 882 responses. In response to the question about how strongly they felt about staff wearing face coverings, 44 percent of families felt strongly that staff should wear coverings and 36 percent felt otherwise. In response to whether students should be required to wear face coverings, 38 percent of families felt strongly students should wear face coverings and 44 percent said they did not feel students should be required to wear face coverings.

The district asked families whether they could provide their students with a face covering if required. 74.1 percent said they could.

The district's plan currently states face coverings or face shields are required when six-feet social distancing is not possible.

Board members Josh Maher and Martha Wiley said they felt uncomfortable using the word 'required” and said making the stipulation would mean more policing of the policy. Wiley asked what repercussions a student would face if they refused to wear a mask. Wiley added that while she hopes to see as many students who can wear masks, she feels making it a requirement could potentially be convenient for students 'looking for a ticket out of school.”

Director of Instruction and Curriculum Kathleen Gavin suggested changing the language to 'masks are expected.”

Both Gavin and superintendent John Henriksen noted district administrators met with local physicians the previous week and suggested asking masks be required.

Various parents and members of the community expressed concerns in how well younger children would tolerate masks and how masks could potentially impede a student's education because they would not be able to see their teachers and their peers faces.

Dr. Sarah Ledger, a parent and local physician, said that masks are an 'all or none” situation. If all students are not asked to wear masks, there would be 'no point in doing it.”

She addressed concerns about younger children tolerating masks and said adults 'might be surprised by how resilient kids are.” She added that if students begin seeing wearing masks normalized and educated on wearing masks, it may not be as large of a challenge.

She added face shields have shown to be less effective if not partnered with a face mask or a covering that encompasses a person's chest area, where droplets could continue to spread even with a shield.

Board member Willy Amos said weighing the worst thing that would happen if the district were not to require masks seems to outweigh the worst possible situation should the district choose to require masks.

'We have to understand that there's a new normal and masks will be around for a while. We're going to have to adapt,” he said.

School board President Jennifer Crull added she would rather 'air on the side of caution than air on the side of risk.”

The board agreed to start with requiring face coverings with stipulations to address students with extenuating medical concerns or circumstances.