Schools continuing with COVID protocols following Supreme Court decision. 

Schools continuing with COVID protocols following Supreme Court decision. 

Following Friday’s ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court that determined Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19-related executive orders are illegal, local school districts are proceeding with caution. 

Ludington Area School District, Mason County Central and Mason County Eastern have communicated with district residents stating that the districts will continue to follow procedures that have been in place since the beginning of the school year. These include requiring all staff and other adults in the buildings to wear facial coverings at all times; requiring students in grades six through 12 to wear masks at all times; requiring students in grades kindergarten through five to wear masks when in common areas. 

“These are policies created by our boards of education,” MCE Superintendent Paul Shoup said. “They have to be followed until the boards change the policies.” 

Many of the guidelines are based on the Extended Continuity of Learning Plan which was a state statute approved by the Legislature and approved by the Governor, according to MCC Superintendent Jeff Mount. 

However, the districts are not enforcing an executive order by the governor that was issued last week that would require K-5 students wear masks all day, since that executive order was deemed illegal. The three districts are, however, recommending that students wear masks in their classrooms. 

All three districts have urged parents and students to follow current guidelines until legalities can be worked out. 

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