https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/c...-school-violating-covid-19-mandate/ar-AAOeJmE
A school employee stood in the doorway, blocking students from entering the building, but then stepped away after parents began shouting that no one could enforce the mask mandate or touch students, and that they should just go in.
Similar scenes played out Tuesday at several schools in the Manchester Community Schools, a district about 20 miles southwest of Ann Arbor, said Susan Ringler Cerniglia, the health department's public information officer.
The unmasked students, she said, were isolated and not allowed to mingle with other students inside.
"It was a fairly small group of people. What they did was go ahead and allow those unmasked individuals into the school buildings, but then they were in a separate area, I believe the library or some other separate space," Ringler Cerniglia said. "So those students basically spent the day in that area and didn't attend classes or mix with other students."
The Free Press left messages Wednesday for Manchester Community Schools Superintendent Bradley Bezeau, but got no immediate response.
Although the county health department has the authority under the
public health code to issue fines and penalties, including charging violators with a misdemeanor, Ringler Cerniglia said the hope is that school leaders can work with parents and students to ensure compliance with the mask mandate, which took effect Tuesday.
"It has to be followed," she said. "And they are looking to handle that with their school policies and procedures and wanted to give themselves a few days to work through that.
"As the health department, we would have the option to implement additional civil monetary penalties or misdemeanors, should that be necessary. We're not at that point yet."
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