Gladwin Elementary to Require Masks This Week After COVID-19 Outbreak

An outbreak of COVID-19 at Gladwin Elementary School has prompted Gladwin Community Schools to require masks at the elementary school only, for the first week of school. The district has posted a message on its Facebook page, saying 6 paraprofessionals, 2 teachers and an administrator tested positive over the weekend, and are isolating at home.

After consultation with medical professionals,  Superintendent Rick Seebeck said masks will be required masks for all indoor activities except for eating at Gladwin Elementary. Masks won’t be required on the playground. Students and unvaccinated staff members identified as a close contact of a positive case will be required to quarantine at home. Vaccinated staff who are close contacts are being allowed to work as long as they are symptom-free.

“I understand that many of you will applaud this decision and others will be upset. While I see both sides of this , I find it unfortunate that a medical crisis has become divisive along political ideology. Be that as it may, I am not a politician or a medical professional and I will not pretend to be either. My job is to ensure that our children are safe and receiving the best education possible given the current situation. In this particular situation I have made the decision to ignore the politics and take advice from the medical professionals working at our local health department, ” said Seebeck in his Facebook message.

Seebeck said the district will re-evaluate the policy after this week.