Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Steve Patchin, who holds a Ph.D. in education leadership, and a BS in business administration, speaks prior to being hired by Hancock Public Schools. Last week, he discussed the roadmap put forth by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as schools set to reopen across the county.

HANCOCK — As schools across Upper Michigan return to face-to-face instruction, some students and parents are not sure about topics such as facial coverings in schools and on buses.

In a Friday email release, Superintendent Steve Patchin said that as of Aug. 28, information stated that over 76 percent of students have chosen to return for face-to-face instruction, while over 10 percent have opted for the online streaming option or Hancock Virtual Schooling. While the district awaits more survey returns, Patchin said the school is expecting approximately 80 percent choosing face-to-face instruction.

A major issue that confronted Hancock Schools earlier was a general understanding that face coverings in school would be optional when students returned to classes on Sept. 8. However, according to the Hancock Public Schools website, students not wishing to wear such personal protection equipment (PPE) must provide documented reasons for not wearing one from a healthcare provider.

The school is providing a Hancock Public Schools Facial Covering Exemption Request form.

“Please note: this must be filled out by a ‘physician or physician’s assistant as defined in the Michigan Public Health Code.'” Patchin said, adding that the School District will view any requests based on existing federal, state, and local legal requirements and public health recommendations and directives.

As Upper Peninsula schools are returning to classes in Phase 5, Hancock included state, Health Department, and other guidelines, in creating their return to school plan. Hancock’s policies include:

• Facial Coverings

– Faculty & Staff: all faculty and staff – All faculty and staff will wear facial coverings while inside the building. Exceptions include eating lunch or when they are along in their office or room, or while outside with their classes.

– K-5 students students will be taught in class cohorts, so facial coverings are recommended, but not required, while in their classrooms. Facial coverings will be worn in hallways during any transition times, but not while eating or outside at recess.

– For students in grades 6 -12, facial coverings will be worn in classrooms and public spaces, but not outside or while eating. PE (Physical Education) classes will be held outside where possible, and breaks outside will be arranged.

– Anyone riding the bus to and from school will wear a facial covering while in the bus.

The safety protocols detailed in the MI Safe Schools Roadmap includes guidance on the use of PPE, good hygiene, cleaning/disinfecting, spacing in classrooms, screening for symptoms, athletics, and more Patchin stated.

In an online back to school letter from the Ontonagon Area School District, dated August 7, Superintendent/K-12 Principal James Bobula said OASD classes were scheduled to resume on August 25, said that K-12 students will wear facial coverings in common areas and in transition (between classes, in hallways, etc.), and strongly recommends wearing facial coverings while in class, in accordance with Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s orders for schools in Phase 5. Similar to Hancock Schools’ return to learning plan, OASD strongly recommends parents monitor their children every morning for symptoms of COVID-19, Including:

• fever

• cough

• congestion

• shortness of breath

• gastrointestinal symptoms

Any student showing any symptoms should prompt the parent or guardian to keep the child/children home from school, and follow up with their healthcare provider.

The MI Safe Start Phase 5 Protocols for Personal Protective Equipment, particularly facial coverings, states that strongly recommended are:

• Facial coverings should always be worm in hallways and common areas by preK-12 students in building, except during meals.

Also included in the safety protocols for facial coverings, however are:

• Any student medically unable to tolerate a facial covering should not wear one.

• Any student who is incapacitated or unable remove the facial covering without assistance, should not wear one.

Facial coverings may be homemade, the MI Safe Start Protocol states, or disposable, level-1 (basic) surgical masks, If social distancing and cohorting is practiced and enforced, facial coverings for students preK-5 are encouraged, but not required.

In the classroom, the protocol strongly recommends:

• Teaching, and reinforcing, handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and/or

• The safe use of hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol,

• Educating staff and students to sneeze and cough into their elbows, or to cover with a tissue. Used tissues should be thrown in the trash, and hands washed immediately using proper hand hygiene techniques.

• Students should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer after changing any classroom; teachers in the classroom should wash their hands or use sanitizer every time a new group of students enters their room.

Each school district should have their return to school plan posted on their individual websites, and the MI. Safe Schools Roadmap can be located at: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/whitmer/MI_Safe_Schools_Roadmap_FINAL_695392_7.pdf.