The Allegan County Health Department Wednesday issued a mandate that all students in grades K-6 wear masks in the classrooms and Townbroadcast reported incorrectly that Hopkins and Martin would make masks optional because of notice that rules were revised to let each school district decide for itself.

The sources for the information were both schools’ web sites and information provided in a story Thursday by WOOD-TV Channel 8.

Hopkins Superintendent Gary Wood said the Townbroadcast report was not correct, quoting, “On Aug. 18, the Allegan County Health Department issued an order stating that all education institutions and all persons in educational settings grades K-6 will be required to wear masks while indoors. This applies to all persons, regardless of vaccination status. The district will comply with this order. Masks will be required on buses.”

Martin Supt. Brooke Ballee-Stone said, “We ARE following the ACHD executive order and so is Hopkins.

“Due to extenuating circumstances, we were not able to get things on our website in time for the OPEN HOUSE, so I created a handout.”

Wayland Union Schools officials have decided to follow the Health Department’s order from Tuesday, which require masks to be worn. Students in seventh and eighth grades must mask up at the middle school when they are close to sixth-graders.