By Jason Wesseldyk, Sports Editor
The mask requirement at Plainwell Community Schools has been extended.
Following the Board of Education meeting on Monday, Jan. 17, the district published a letter to parents informing them that all students, staff members and visitors will need to wear a face covering inside all district buildings during the instructional day through at least Monday, Feb. 7.
The mask mandate was originally set to run through Friday, Jan. 14, before the district informed parents that it would run until at least Monday, Jan. 17.
The extension of the mandate comes amid continued high numbers of positive COVID cases and quarantines.
As was the case previously, masks will not be required for extra-curricular activities—including athletics—that take place before or after school. Masks are also not required outside.
Other exceptions for the mask mandate 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