BEDHD Mask and Quarantine Update

9.17.21

Dear Families of Maple Valley,

We were advised today that the Barry Eaton Health Department is issuing two public health orders. The orders will go into effect on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021 to allow school districts some time to adjust and inform their families and staff.

These orders impact all educational institutions that serve children in Barry and Eaton Counties, including Maple Valley Schools. Universal masking is mandated as well as mandatory compliance with quarantine directives. The orders do not have a set expiration date but will be rescinded by the Director when deemed appropriate. We will post the orders on our website.

We know the divisiveness of these issues and we are working to honor mandates as well as preserve the best learning environment possible for all of the children of Maple Valley. Currently our board follows mandated rules because failure to follow those have grave implications for our district.

One possible silver lining will be the reduction of quarantine orders as a result of universal masking. Students who may be exposed to Covid positive folks would only be tracked within a 3 foot perimeter which will greatly reduce the exposed students from quarantine requirements. Also, any student or staff who have been vaccinated or have a positive Covid test on record with the Health Department will not be quarantined.

On Monday we will send out a survey to our families and your feedback will be critical for us to plan. Our goal is to be as respectful and responsive to our families as possible.  We are investigating virtual learning as a choice for the balance of the first semester. We do not yet have a complete picture of what might be possible, but we will get information out as quickly as we can finalize options. We learned a great deal over the past year and a half and will be utilizing what we know to examine viable options given the current state rules for attendance and pupil accounting.  Please respond to the survey when you receive it to ensure your wishes are known. 

In the meantime, students and staff will have to be masked by Wednesday of next week. Please plan for this mandate within your families over the weekend. 

We will host a special meeting of the board on Monday evening in the high school gym at 7 pm to determine educational options given this new set of requirements. 

We were a community before COVID, we are a community now and we will continue to be a community going forward. Let us all resolve to work together to get through this as the strong school district we are. 

All my best to you,
Katherine Bertolini
Superintendent

Additional Documents
BEDHD - COVID-19 Order SlideDeck
BEDHD - Emergency Order 2021-1 Quarantine
BEDHD - Emergency Order 2021-2 Masks
BEDHD - Press Release Public Health Orders