Though the Allegan County Health Department officially lifted its mask mandate Oct. 1, a group of about two dozen parents Monday night told the Wayland Board of Education they want things to stay the way they are now.

One parent, Leslie VanVliet, Monday evening presented statistics that show the rate of Covid-19 cases in schools has been virtually the same since the mask order was rescinded.

“It’s obvious the masks aren’t doing anything (to stop virus spread),” she concluded.

Her daughter, Lelah, complained about the effects of the masks and insisted, “We should have a choice on what we put on our faces.”
Pamela Lawrence said since the order was lifted, most students have shed the masks, saying, “That means a majority of parents don’t want them (mask mandates).”

Amanda Wurm warned, “Don’t take this choice away from parents… Our kids are finally able to focus on what school is all about.”

Anthony Gutierrez said, “Our underlying purpose is to keep kids in school… the county is making a choice, now it’s up to us.”

Supt. Dr. Christina Hinds told board members the Allegan County Health Department is considering hiring “health resource advocates” to better handle quarantine situations, which she hopes will better serve families.

She said the county is proposing to have such an HRA serve both the Wayland and Hopkins school districts to get in touch with parents and families of students who have been quarantined.

“We don’t have the resources to investigate cases like the health department does,” Hinds explained.

Board Trustee Becky Hohnke added, “Our community is having a hard time dealing with quartantining. It’s confusing.”

The superintendent said she hopes to have more information about HRAs next month.

In other business at Monday evening’s work session, the board agreed to an emergency purchase of a new scoreboard for the swimming program.

Hinds said the old one has fallen into an irreparable state.

Assistant Supt. for Grounds and Finance Patricia Velie arranged to buy a new unit for $8,945 now, which recommended because she didn’t feel the district should wait at least two weeks in order to seek and get bids.