On Oct. 25, 2021, the TCAPS Board voted to continue the mask mandate in schools through Dec. 31. Students, parents, and public citizens showed up to share their beliefs on the mask mandate. The board and a large part of the public voiced their concerns about sending young children to schools without masks.

  “As my daughter is currently too young to receive a vaccine, and given the high rates of community transmission, I hope that you will continue to require masks until the young kids have an opportunity to be vaccinated,” Traverse City resident Katie said.

  Others stated that the mask mandate should be terminated and is violating rights.

  “We believe in our first amendment rights. Face-to-face learning does not equal mask to mask,” resident Melissa said during public comment.

  At the end of the meeting, board members considered the public’s opinion and what they believed was the right decision for the safety of students. The board ultimately voted in favor of continuing the mask mandate, with a 5-1 majority. 

  The motion moved by Andrew Raymond states, “The Board of Education continues the current universal masking policy at TCAPS, set to expire on Dec. 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.” 

  Currently, this date will mark the end of the mask mandate, but School Board members have the ability to meet and discuss masks further as the year progresses or more data is collected.