Updated: June 17,2021
MSD of Martinsville Families,
We hope your summer break is going great! The MSD of Martinsville is continuing to work on our plans for the 2021-2022 school year based on feedback that many of you submitted in the COVID-19 survey. We wanted to share with you an update on those plans that were discussed at last night’s school board meeting.
We know that many of you have questions about health and safety requirements for next school year. We have received preliminary guidance from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), but anticipate there will be changes in the coming weeks. As of today, ISDH has not mandated masks for schools for the 2021-2022 school year. Additionally, there are currently no executive orders or federal mandates requiring masks for the 2021-2022 school year in school buildings or school grounds. If that does not change, the MSD of Martinsville will not require masks for our students or staff. Mask wearing of course, will be allowed for individuals who feel more comfortable wearing a mask.
The MSD of Martinsville does not have the legal authority to mandate the COVID-19 vaccination for students. The Indiana Department of Health has the sole power to determine the immunization schedule for children attending K-12 schools (IC 20-34-4-2). The COVID-19 vaccination is not listed as a required or recommended immunization for the 2021-2022 school year 2021-2022 ISDH Immunization List. If after the 2021-2022 school year or beyond the ISDH ever does add the COVID-19 vaccination to the required immunization then medical (IC 20-34-3-3) and religious (IC 20-34-3-2) exemptions will always apply.
We will continue to provide updates as plans are finalized later in the summer, however, we felt it was important to give information on two topics that we are receiving the most questions about.
Audrey Jackson
Director of Student Services
