Schools’ actions on COVID-19 please East Lansing School community councils

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Graph showing COVID-19 cases in the East Lansing School District, created through Floruish.

As of Oct. 6, the East Lansing School District has had 24 in-person students and/or staff in quarantine for COVID-19. Eleven have been from MacDonald Middle School and nine have been from Glencairn Elementary.


Emily Ostrowski, treasurer of Donley Elementary’s Student Association, said the East Lansing School Board remains transparent with COVID-19 policies.


“As a parent, I’m aware of COVID policies. But we do not attend board meetings. Our interaction with them is minimal,” she said. “… I’m sure if we needed them to be more involved, or there were concerns, we would be welcomed at their meetings.”


Ostrowski said her kids went back to in-person learning last March.


She said, “… When the option opened up for in-person school, we took full advantage of it … I want to keep my kids in school as long as it’s safe … I appreciate East Lansing having a lot of protocols for COVID safety. That’s been very reassuring to me.”


Donley Elementary has had zero COVID-19 cases and zero in-person students and/or staff in quarantine for COVID-19. Cumulatively, the school has had two cases in the 2021-2022 school year.


Tali Hylen, president of Marble Elementary’s Community Council, is in full support of the administration, as well.


“Our superintendent has been incredible from the jump. The bottom line is, they’ve been following the science this entire time,” she said. “I’m in complete trust with them and they’ve handled everything so well. Yeah, not having in-person meetings hurts our council and engagement but I wouldn’t have it any other way at this point in time. Safety is the utmost priority.”

Tali Hylen


Similarly, Marble Elementary has had zero active cases or quarantines among students and staff for COVID-19. However, the school has had three cases. State and local guidance does not require vaccinated students and staff who are identified as close contacts to quarantine as long as they remain symptom-free.

COVID-19 Prevention Strategies provided by Ingham County’s Health Department, created through Canva.


Rachel Perez, president of Robert L. Green Elementary’s Parent Council, said the district has given the council updates on COVID-19 policies every month.


“The district has been very transparent with us. They keep in good communication with us frequently, even sometimes more than I expect,” she said. “They keep us in the loop. And we have a principal and a teacher representative join each one of our monthly meetings and that is a topic that we talk about with updates.”


As of Oct. 6, Robert L. Green Elementary has had one active COVID-19 case and one in-person student and/or staff in quarantine. Cumulatively, the school has had three cases this year.
The East Lansing School District has been conducting weekly COVID-19 testing as part of a United States Department of Health and Human Services program. Per President Biden’s National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, the HHS has invested $10 billion from the American Rescue Plan to increase COVID-19 testing to help schools reopen, $2.25 billion to scale up testing in underserved populations and provide new guidance on asymptomatic screening testing in schools, workplaces, and congregate settings.

All individuals, regardless of vaccination status are required to wear a facial covering inside any building, structure, or vehicle of the district, per an emergency order. Ingham County’s Health Department has also recommended the following prevention strategies: getting vaccinated, staying six feet away from others, washing hands, cleaning and disinfecting, covering coughs and sneezes, monitoring daily health, and staying home if sick.


For further information, check the East Lansing Public Schools’ COVID-19 dashboard.

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