The ELPS board of education is scheduled to vote on April 11 to change the mask policy that has been in effect since the beginning of the school year. The motion, if approved, would make masking optional for staff and students in buildings and in district transportation. 

This comes after a poll circulated by the East Lansing Educational Foundation, the teacher’s union, found that 62 percent of the 286 respondents wanted masking to be made optional after April 11, with the another 14 percent wanting to wait until at least April 25, and about 25 percent wanting the policy to remain until the next school year.

When Ingham County withdrew its mask orders for education on Feb. 16, ELPS chose to keep their order in place and reconsider after spring break. Now, Superintendent Dori Leyko cites CDC and local metrics that list Ingham as low-risk, and that there were only five school related cases since returning from break. Leyko recognizes that her recommendation may not be fully supported.

“As with every decision involving masks, I recognize that this recommendation will not be supported by all staff, students or families, but I believe that it’s the right time for us to allow for choice under current conditions,” Leyko wrote in an email to staff over the weekend.

The board’s regular meeting will be taking place on Monday, April 11 at 7:00 p.m. This item is accompanied by proposed changes to ELPS health curriculum videos and other routine board items. Public comments will take place prior to the vote on masking. The full agenda can be found here.