KPS backpedals on mask mandate

KALKASKA — About a week after Kalkaska Public Schools Superintendent Rick Heitmeyer released a video message announcing a mask mandate for all students, staff and visitors to indoor school facilities, the Kalkaska Public Schools Board of Education voted to revoke the mandate at its monthly meeting on Sept. 20.

The move came after a great deal of pushback from parents following the brief implementation of the requirement of masks. Some protested outside the school over the directive, while others sent messages and emails to board members and school officials. Since then the school district has still received a mixed bag of responses from the public.

“We’ve gotten a lot of ‘thanks for allowing us to make a choice,’ but we’ve also gotten those messages and phone calls that say, ‘we wish you would’ve kept the mandates,’” Heitmeyer said. ““It’s really no win no matter where you are or what decision you make regarding things.”

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