Dear Families,
Last Friday, September 25, 2020, Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-185, which requires students in grades kindergarten through fifth to wear a facial covering in their classroom. This requirement applies to all schools located in a Region that is in Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan. This is a change from her previous Executive Orders and the Return to School Roadmap, which we built our Return to School Plan around. This new order goes into effect on Monday, October 5, 2020. As a district, we must comply with this Executive Order and will begin requiring masks in the classroom for all students when the order takes effect. We will spend this week preparing for the change and working with our students to explain the new requirement.
Our elementary students have been doing a great job wearing facial coverings when they have been required to, and I know they will adapt to this new requirement. Our elementary teachers will provide periodic facial covering breaks where students will be able to remove their facial covering for a few minutes. Additionally, students will still be able to remove their facial coverings during times when they are outside the building, such as recess and during lunch and snack.
Sincerely,
Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.S.
Superintendent
Howell Public Schools