MANCHESTER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

ANN ARBOR, MI - After steady snow reduced travel across southeast Michigan Wednesday, some Washtenaw County schools have opted to remain closed Thursday. Several of the district’s public K-12 districts opted close again Thursday, citing secondary and subdivision roads that have not yet been plowed after the area was hit with several inches of snow. The following schools in Washtenaw County are closed Wednesday:Chelsea School DistrictDexter Community SchoolsLincoln Consolidated SchoolsManchester Community SchoolsMilan Area SchoolsSaline Area SchoolsWhitmore Lake Public SchoolsYpsilanti Community SchoolsThis list will be updatedREAD MORE:See Washtenaw County school closings for Wednesday, Jan. 25Storm forecast, timeline for Ann Arbor, Detroit, Jackson shows who flirts with 6 inches of snow

MANCHESTER, MI - Manchester Community Schools is working to replace sinks and water fountain fixtures in some of its schools after water testing revealed lead levels above the allowable amount. The district underwent water testing in October 2021 after the Manchester community was found to have “action level exceedance” for lead.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Inclement weather and icy roads have caused some southeast Michigan schools to close their doors Tuesday, Jan. 25. In Washtenaw County, Manchester Community Schools canceled classes Tuesday due to inclement weather and icy road conditions. In Lenawee County, the following districts canceled school Tuesday due to the icy road conditions:Clinton Community SchoolsOnsted Community SchoolsTecumseh Public SchoolsAs snow accumulated through the morning on Monday, Saline Area Schools decided to dismiss middle and high school students early. In Livingston County, Pinckney Community Schools also dismissed students early Monday due to inclement weather. READ MORE:Up to 6 inches more snow coming for parts of Michigan by midweekSaline dismissing middle, high school students early due to inclement weatherDrivers urged to stay off snowy Washtenaw County roads

On Wednesday, Manchester Community Schools parents, staff members and some students met at the Manchester High School football stadium with superintendent Bradley Bezeau. They were there to discuss the division caused by the mask mandate issued by the Washtenaw County Health Department.

MANCHESTER, MI - The parent of a Manchester Community Schools student is suing the district, alleging its enforcement of the county health department’s K-12 mask mandate is a violation of his daughter’s constitutional rights. Stewart’s lawsuit alleges Manchester schools engaged in “extreme and dangerous conduct” when district administrators placed students who chose not to wear a mask in the building in a segregated room by themselves. Students were threatened with detention and suspension if they decided not to wear a mask, the lawsuit states. During the mask protest in September, around two dozen students entered Manchester High School without masks in protest of a mask mandate issued by the Washtenaw County Health Department. The Manchester School Board plans to conduct its meetings remotely - at least until the end of the school year.

MANCHESTER, MI - Superintendent Brad Bezeau knew Monday’s Manchester School Board meeting couldn’t go on, unless a portion of the audience in attendance put on masks. When they refused, the board made the quick decision to adjourn, Bezeau said . Going forward, Bezeau said Manchester’s School Board plans to conduct its meetings remotely - at least until the end of the school year - with the next meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27. Located in the southwestern corner of Washtenaw County with an enrollment of about 800 students, Manchester Community Schools had been the only district in the county that made wearing masks optional prior to the health department’s mandate. The district has not had similar issues with students not complying with the mask mandate, Bezeau said.

MANCHESTER, MI - Manchester Community Schools continues to wrestle with enforcing its mask policy inside district buildings. The Board of Education on Monday was compelled to adjourned its regular meeting after some members of the public refused to wear masks. Bezeau and members of the Manchester Board of Education could not be reached for comment Monday. There were no issues with students entering school buildings without masks on Wednesday, Sept. 8, Bezeau said. READ MORE:Unmasked Manchester students enter building in protest of mandateSaline students walk out to protest COVID mask mandateIndoor mask mandate now required for all Washtenaw County K-12 schools

ANN ARBOR, MI – A group of students protesting a Washtenaw County school’s mask mandate walked into their school unmasked this week. Ann Arbor church buys former Treasure Mart building for $2MThe former Treasure Mart in Ann Arbor is getting a new purpose. Ann Arbor Farmers Market hosting 2 food truck rallies this year after COVID delays launchThe Ann Arbor Farmers Market is set to host just two food truck rallies this year after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the original launch date. Ann Arbor’s first family fitness festival to take place this fallAdvantage Personal Training will be hosting its first Ann Arbor Family Fitness Festival on Oct. 2. Washtenaw County faces discrimination lawsuit from 22-year employeeOne of the only women employed in the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission’s maintenance division is suing the county, alleging she faced gender and sex-based discrimination and refusal to accommodate a disability.

A video shows parents in Washtenaw County urging their kids to ignore their high school’s mask mandate and enter the school.

MANCHESTER, MI - Around two dozen students entered Manchester High School without masks on Tuesday in protest of a mask mandate issued by the Washtenaw County Health Department. The students entered the building on Sept. 7, which was the day the health department’s mask mandate for all schools in the county went into effect. While students and parents voiced their displeasure with school officials outside the building Tuesday, Manchester Superintendent Brad Bezeau said the students without mask were allowed to enter the building. It can become an enforceable legal action if someone from the school district requests that the sheriff’s office enforce trespassing laws the school has established. “We are not there to cite people for a (public health) violation.”READ MORE:Indoor mask mandate now required for all Washtenaw County K-12 schoolsMask mandate in the works for Washtenaw County schoolsThese are the mask plans for Washtenaw County schools

YPSILANTI, MI - Children in all of Washtenaw County’s K-12 schools are being required to wear masks indoors, according to an order from the Washtenaw County Health Department. Washtenaw County recently moved into a “high” rate of COVID-19 transmission. Manchester Community Schools, which currently makes mask wearing optional, indicated earlier this week it would comply with any mask mandate the county issues. The order applies to public, private, vocational and charter schools that provide pre-K-12 classes in Washtenaw County, as well as any affiliated extracurricular activities or athletics. The mask order does not apply to:Those actively eating or drinking, swimming or diving or who are alone in a room.

The Washtenaw County Health Department expects to announce a mask mandate later this week.

ANN ARBOR, MI - The Washtenaw County Health Department expects to issue a mandate requiring that masks be worn in all of the county’s schools. The Washtenaw County Health Department currently “strongly recommends” schools require students and staff to wear masks in the classroom. Currently, nine of the 10 public school districts in the county have mask mandates in place, given Washtenaw County’s current “high” rate of COVID-19 transmission, with 102 cases per 100,000 residents. “Our strategy was really to work with our school districts provide those clear recommendations and guidance,” Ringler-Cerniglia said. READ MORE:These are the mask plans for Washtenaw County schoolsStudents, staff will mask up in Chelsea schools in substantial, high COVID transmission levelsAll students, staff will mask up in Dexter schools unless COVID transmission is lowMasks required for students, staff, visitors inside all Ann Arbor schools this fall

(AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – The Washtenaw Superintendents’ Association has issued a statement calling to increase vaccine supplies for teachers in the county’s public school districts. According to a recent survey of educators by Michigan Education Association, only 25.6% of respondents in Washtenaw County had received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. WSA represents the superintendents of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and the following nine public school districts: Ann Arbor Public Schools; Chelsea School District; Dexter Community Schools; Lincoln Consolidated Schools; Manchester Community Schools; Milan Area Schools; Saline Area Schools; Whitmore Lake Public Schools and Ypsilanti Community Schools. Washtenaw County superintendents have taken every opportunity to collectively advocate on behalf of our school communities at the local, state, and federal levels. We call on local Washtenaw County leaders to continue to keep equity at the center of everything we do, including our vaccination efforts.

ANN ARBOR, MI - Although a number of local school districts already are off on winter break to start the week, some have opted to cancel in-person classes for Tuesday, Feb. 16, due to expected inclement weather hitting Southeast Michigan Monday evening. The Ann Arbor area is expecting between 6 and 8 inches of snow by Tuesday morning, with a Winter Storm Warning issued for much of Southeast Michigan. Along with local K-12 schools, both Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College opted to cancel all classes and events on Tuesday. Here’s an early look at some of the schools that have announced closing for Tuesday. READ MORE:Ann Arbor, Detroit: You are in the heaviest snow area tonight and TuesdayWinter Storm Warning issued for Detroit, Ann Arbor, much of southeast Lower Michigan

ANN ARBOR, MI - Some schools got an early jump on celebrating a snow day opting to cancel classes Friday, Feb. 5 due to inclement weather. Washtenaw County was blanketed with snow late Thursday, with 2-4 inches of snow expected in Southeast Michigan. Washtenaw County schools closed are:Arbor Preparatory High SchoolEast Arbor Charter AcademyFather Gabriel Richard High SchoolFortis Academy (virtual learning only, no in-person classes)Lincoln Consolidated SchoolsLivingston Classical AcademyManchester Community SchoolsSt. Francis of Assisi Catholic SchoolSouth Arbor Charter Academy (virtual learning only, no in-person classes)Washtenaw Christian AcademyWhitmore Lake Public SchoolsYpsilanti Community Schools: Food distribution and grab-n-go delivery bus service canceled. Distribution is rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 8. Lenawee County schools closed are:Addison Community SchoolsAdrian Public SchoolsBlissfield Community SchoolsBritton Deerfield SchoolsClinton Community SchoolsHudson Area SchoolsMadison School DistrictMorenci Area SchoolsOnsted School DistrictSand Creek Community SchoolsTecumseh Public SchoolsLivingston County schools closed are:Brighton Area SchoolsFowlerville Community SchoolsHoly Spirit Catholic SchoolHowell Public School DistrictLight of the World AcademyLivingston Christian SchoolsLivingston Educational Service AgencyMaple Tree Montessori AcademyPathway SchoolREAD MORE:Ann Arbor and Detroit snow, wind and cold: Here’s the scoopWhat 10 other weather forecasters are saying about Michigan’s early-February snowstormFriday’s travel conditions in Michigan to be ‘worst we’ve seen all winter,’ NWS says

MANCHESTER, MI – Brad Bezeau points to the success Manchester Community Schools have had in implementing in-person learning four days a week. Those safety measures included strongly recommending – not requiring – that students in grades K-5 wear masks in the classroom, while requiring those younger students to wear face coverings in common areas and while riding the bus. Gretchen Whitmer that were determined by the Michigan Supreme Court to be unconstitutional, Washtenaw County Health Department Public Information Officer Susan Ringler-Cerniglia said. Tecumseh Public Schools also initially reverted back to its original preparedness and response plan passed by its school board that did not require masks in grades K-4. Whitmer asks Supreme Court to clarifyWhitmore Lake Public Schools temporarily moves to remote learning after COVID-19 case