School districts discuss health safety as students return to class

School districts in St. Clair and Sanilac counties are taking measures to keep students healthy as the new school year approaches.

Students in both counties are starting the school year fully in-person and mask free. However, maintaining student health has been a forefront topic for school districts, especially in relation to flu season, COVID-19 and the newest virus, Monkeypox.  

Marysville Public Schools will have its classes be taught in-person without masks. However, students and staff who wish to wear a mask will be allowed to. Superintendent Shawn Wightman said the health of Marysville Public Schools’ students and staff will always be an important topic.

“During the pandemic, we were very concerned about our staff and students’ health and wellbeing in the district,” he said.

In 2021, the district opened a wellness clinic that employed a full-time nurse and social worker. The nurse rotates between buildings five days a week. In addition to checking in on students’ health, the nurse also provides vaccinations.

“We’re grateful and thankful to have a nurse in our district,” Wightman said.

Marysville Public Schools will also be diligent in its sanitizing and disinfecting efforts, especially considering Monkeypox. Wightman said the district has had disinfecting experts come into its building multiple times a week to keep surfaces clean.

Croswell-Lexington will also have in-person instruction this year. Although it won’t be required, students have the option to wear masks inside the school buildings. Superintendent Colette Moody said Cros-Lex tracks student immunization rates, and student health is something the district watches closely.

“We’re always in touch with the health department and following mandates if something happens” Moody said.

Moody said COVID-19 gave the district the opportunity to reevaluate its cleaning and sanitizing procedures. The district has hand sanitizer stations throughout its schools. Additionally, the district teaches its younger students the importance of hand washing before meals and after using the restroom.

Cros-Lex does not have virtual learning options for its elementary and middle schools. However, Moody said it will be an option for high schoolers in the district because it provides access to broader courses.

East China School District is fully back to in-person instruction with facemasks optional for students. The district is implementing similar efforts to other districts to ensure student health. Superintendent Susanna Cybulla said the district will be continuing to use cleaning protocols it used during the peak of the pandemic.

“We’ll continue doing what we have been doing to keep our students safe and healthy,” she said.

Additionally, East China will be using the air purifier system it obtained last year to incorporate as much fresh air into school building as possible. Cybulla said East China will maintain steps to have a happy and healthy school year.

East China Virtual Learning Academy is available for students as well.

Port Huron Area Schools will not be requiring masks for the 2022-23 school year. No further comment was provided to the Times Herald.

Health Department weighs in

Washing hands and disinfecting surfaces is only two ways people can keep themselves healthy. Liz King, director-health officer for the St. Clair County Health Department, aid keeping up to date on vaccinations will help people stay healthy.

“Vaccinations can save lives, are safe, effective and protects others,” she said in an email.

King said parents and schools can keep students healthy in similar ways in regards to vaccines. Parents can speak to their family doctor to ensure their children are up to date with vaccines. Doctors will also answer any questions or concerns parents have.

Schools can promote the recommended vaccine schedule, which will also ensure school requirements are met. Schools can also work with their local health department by asking questions, provide training to staff and have credible information available.

“The Health Department is also a great resource and staff are highly knowledgeable on all vaccines,” King said in an email. “Follow credible vaccine sources of information as misinformation is so easy to find.”

According to the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians, the vaccine rate in children under 18 have decreased across the state. St. Clair County reflects the trend, with the vaccination rate of children between 19 and 35 months dropping from 52.4% in 2021 to is 48.6% in 2022.

For children between 13 and 17, the vaccination rate has dropped slightly from 33.7% in 2021, to 33.2% in 2022.

“According to Michigan Department of Health & Human Services 2022 data, thus far, St. Clair County is ranked 62 out of 84 counties for 19–35-month-olds and 77 out of 84 counties for 13–17-year-olds,” King said in an email.

The data was received from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry. In this data set, Detroit was counted as another county.

As of August 22, Michigan has 143 confirmed or probable Monkeypox cases. Only one case is confirmed in St. Clair County.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.