More than 100 people attended Monday night's Midland Public Schools board of education meeting, where the topics of mask mandates and survey questions were both discussed extensively.
MPS currently requires masks to be worn by all students and staff in grades K-6, and that is a decision that the school board has left in the hands of Superintendent Michael Sharrow for the past year.
But several citizens at Monday's meeting contended that it is the seven-member board, not the superintendent, that should make the final call on a mask mandate.
Masks were required for all MPS students and staff in grades K-12 for the entire 2020-21 school year. The current school year started without a mask mandate for any grade level. But one week into the school year, in response to high COVID numbers in some of the schools, Sharrow modified the policy to require masks for grades K-6, which encompasses the ages — up to 11 — that are not yet eligible to get a COVID vaccination.
Sharrow explained to the Daily News on Tuesday that the MPS board on Oct. 19, 2020, adopted a policy through Neola, a multi-state school district policy organization, that puts the decision to require masks in the hands of the superintendent.
"I never leave them (the school board) out of a decision," Sharrow said, noting that he consulted with each board member before implementing the K-6 mask mandate on Aug. 30.
During an open discussion among the board members and the superintendent at the end of the meeting, Sharrow said he is strongly inclined to lift the mask mandate once a COVID vaccine is made available to ages 5-11 — an announcement from the federal government that is expected to come early in November.
"As soon as that shot is available, I am happy to lift (the mandate)," he said. "I am going to get anger (from the community) either way. The law does say I must keep kids protected. We’re all (of different opinions) on what that protection means. It’s very clear where I lean: I don't have a mask on tonight, and I started the school year with choice (for parents about whether their children should wear a mask or not)."
School board President Scott McFarland and a few other board members said they continue to believe that the superintendent is in the best position to decide whether a mask mandate is needed.
"Any board class offered through (the Michigan Association of School Boards) will tell board members that is one of the administrative functions of the superintendent," McFarland said of the mask mandate decision. "He is in direct contact with the medical experts."
William Sutter was one of several people in attendance at the meeting who said the school board should vote on whether to continue the mask mandate.
"It should be voluntary, it should be a choice, and you guys need to vote on it. We are all asking you to vote," he said. "Do your job or we can find people to replace you next time you come up for a vote."
Sharrow said the mask mandate should be reviewed again at the next board meeting, which is Monday, Nov. 22.
"By then, maybe we’ll see the decline in our numbers (that has been expected) and we will be able to make a more solid decision. And we will get some more information from the health department," Sharrow said.
Survey questions
At least three people spoke during the public comment period about their concerns that questions were modified or deleted in the Developmental Asset Study conducted by the Legacy Center and Midland Kids First that is being given to grades 6-12.
"It has come to our attention that the survey has been altered," said Midland High School teacher Heather Aviles, who said she was representing the school's DEI committee. "It seems a few individuals succeeded in having questions removed on gender identity and sexual behaviors.
"This not only robs (students) of resources, but invalidates them as human beings. By altering the survey, we are not honoring all," Aviles continued.
But MPS parent Amy DeHaven had a different view on the survey.
“I’d really be interested to see the stats of numbers of families we are talking about in our community (who have a child who identifies as transgender)," DeHaven said at the meeting. "What sort of percentage are we dealing with here if you feel it is appropriate to ask my 11-year-old son if he is transgender? My son is male and my daughter is female. … God doesn’t make mistakes."
Sharrow told the Daily News that MPS along with Meridian Public Schools, Bullock Creek School District and Coleman Community Schools, brought concerns to the Legacy Center and Midland Kids First about some of the questions in the survey. He said that a question about gender identity was subsequently modified and a couple of questions about sexual activity were removed from the survey.
Sharrow said MPS will now review how it approaches surveys in the future.
"Should surveys be 'opt in' vs. 'opt out'?" he said. "Should we allow outside firms to survey our kids at all? We’re going to review that in light of the world we are in today."
The Developmental Asset Study survey is done anonymously in efforts to find what is going well in the lives of our youth and what they are concerned about, as well as to allow them to share their values, perspectives, and experiences. Findings from the previous studies have helped drive change in Midland County.
Shining Star awards
MPS bus driver Robin Reinke and Jefferson Middle School counselor Lindsay Timmerman were named the monthly MPS Shining Star award recipients at Monday's meeting. The board members gave both of them standing ovations.
Sharrow noted that Reinke joined MPS in 2019 after retiring from a 30-year career with Dow.
"Mr. Robin is the real deal," says an award nomination from a parent that Sharrow read. "He's always friendly, always excited to see the kids. He had great communication when the bus route changed slightly, and that was much appreciated."
Reinke was grateful to accept the award.
“I know I’m doing something right, so that’s good," he said. "I always thought driving a school bus would be a fun job, and it has been so far. The kids are great.”
Timmerman is in her second year at Jefferson and made a big impression on a parent who nominated her.
“We are new to the district. We recently moved here from another state," Sharrow read from the nomination. "She really went above and beyond what was asked of her (to make us feel welcome). She is our shining star.”
Eastlawn property
On Aug. 31, MPS held a neighborhood meeting in cooperation with the City of Midland and the Midland Area Community Foundation to hear input from residents living in the vicinity of the Eastlawn Elementary School property at the corner of Eastlawn and Jefferson, now vacant and still owned by MPS.
At the meeting, some of the possibilities for redeveloping the property into housing were presented, and the residents in attendance voiced many concerns.
Sharrow said at Monday's meeting that a request for proposal for the Eastlawn property has been posted and he believed that it will close next week.
He said first a committee will consider the bids and then the school board will have to vote to approve the chosen bid.
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Lively Midland school board meeting centers on mask mandate, survey questions - Midland Daily News
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