Governor’s new executive order prompts change in protocol
By Andy Klotz, APR—
MUNCIE, Ind. – Thanks to Governor Eric Holcomb’s new executive order, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) will no longer require students designated as close contacts of a person who tests positive for COVID-19 to quarantine as long as they are not experiencing virus symptoms if the contact was in the school setting. This change in district protocol will go into effect Friday, September 3.
“We are thrilled with the governor’s new executive order,” MCS Director of Public Education and CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski said. “This will allow our students to stay in school as long as they are symptom-free and keep up on their work. We’ve noticed that the vast majority of close contacts never develop symptoms or test positive, so we believe this is a huge step in the right direction.”
MCS is able to make this change due to its current policy requiring masks be worn in school by all students, staff and visitors. The change will not only keep symptom-free students from having to go into quarantine in the future, but it will also allow approximately 200 students who are currently in quarantine as close contacts to return to school tomorrow.
“While we’re happy to get our students back in school, we need parents to be even more vigilant about monitoring their children’s health,” Kwiatkowski said. “Our parents have been doing a great job with this throughout the pandemic and we expect that will continue.”
MCS will continue to track close contacts and notify parents if their child has been identified as one. The district will also keep posting all COVID-19 statistics and information on its website at http://muncie.k12.in.us/safety/c_o_v_i_d-19_updates.
About Muncie Community Schools
Serving the local community since 1855, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) educates more than 5,000 students at six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school while also managing several other educational facilities. Through its unique partnership with Ball State University, MCS strives to maximize each student’s potential so he or she can be a positive, productive member of society. Find out more about MCS or Director of Public Education and CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski at muncieschools.org.
