UPDATE: Manistique Area Schools close due to positive COVID-19 cases

MANISTIQUE, Mich. (WLUC) - UPDATE: Manistique students are now learning virtually. This school year, Manistique Schools has reported 21 positive COVID-19 cases and 292 students in quarantine. That means 42 percent of students have had to stay home from school within the past month.

So, the district, with guidance from the LMAS Health Department decided to pause in-person learning.

“Students are returning October 11 which is a week from Monday and there will be no testing when they return,” said Howard Parmentier, superintendent for Manistique Area Schools.

Middle and high school students are expected to be logged into Zoom on time for each class.

“In our elementary, it’s a little different. I believe that most staff are doing two zoom sessions a day and they’re doing the core subject areas,” said Parmentier.

Manistique Schools will still be distributing meals at the middle/high school and all students are eligible to pick up food. Pick up days are October fourth and seventh from eleven in the morning until one in the afternoon.

Thursday’s girls’ volleyball game will be rescheduled. The JV football game scheduled for Thursday night was canceled because of a lack of players. The Varsity football game against Bark River Friday is still scheduled.

“Student athletes are going to be given antigen tests on either Thursday or Friday of this week and then Monday, Wednesday of next week,” said Parmentier.

Homecoming was planned for next week, but it will be rescheduled.

The superintendent wants to remind students that they’ve gone through this before and they will make it through this time.

Manistique Area Schools will shift to virtual learning starting Thursday.

In a press release, Superintendent Howard Parmentier said the school board is concerned about the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the district.

He said the LMAS Health Department found evidence to confirm that transmission is occurring through the schools.

The schools will be closed until October 8.

Meals will be available for all students and will be distributed at the middle/high school on Thursday 9/30, Monday 10/4 and Thursday 10/7 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Parmentier said athletics will be discussed at the next board meeting.

Copyright 2021 WLUC. All rights reserved.