Bonduel and Shawano schools lift mask mandates

Both districts still encourage masking, even though it’s no longer required
By: 
Luke Reimer
Reporter

Masks are no longer required in the Bonduel and Shawano school districts.

At the May 3 Bonduel School Board meeting, the board voted to overturn the mask mandate, requiring masks to be worn in the school district. The change to the mandate went through on a 5-2 vote, with Dale Bergsbaken and Nina Rouse voting against.

Around 50 people were in attendance at the meeting to voice their opinion on what they think should happen with the masks, as well as hear the board’s discussion around it.

According to Superintendent Joe Dawidziak audience members came prepared with information regarding masks.

“There were people in the audience who brought articles about health and vaccinations,” said Dawidziak. “One person did a demonstration with a mannequin.”

Dawidziak said that he had a recommendation in writing to keep the mask mandate in place, but the school board voted to end it.

He also said that he thought that the change in the mask mandate from schools around Bonduel played a factor in the board’s decision to remove the mandate.

“We had a representative from Coleman at the meeting talking about the mandate in Coleman,” said Dawidziak.

The change in the mandate went into place on the morning of May 5. Dawidziak said that because there was so much discussion at the board meeting that he would not have been able to effectively communicate the change to families by the morning of May 4, so he held off until May 5.

He noted that the audience was split on their opinions on keeping the mask mandate in place or not.

According to Dawidziak, there are still contingency plans in place if someone were to contract COVID-19.

“If someone were to contract COVID-19 in the school district, that person would be sent home,” said Dawidziak. “If the infected person had siblings, they would be sent home as well. We will request testing and we will contact trace.”

Dawidziak said that he has concerns for large gatherings towards the end of the year.

“I do have a little bit of a concern for school gatherings, whether it be games, events or graduation,” said Dawidziak.

He also said that the student’s school experience was kept in his mind during the school board’s vote.

“This is good for students who want to have a better high school experience,” said Dawidziak.

Dawidziak noticed that he is seeing less masks in the school after the mandate was changed.

In the Shawano School District, masks are not required to be worn within the school district buildings. Superintendent Randi Anderson said that a question was brought up about the mask mandate in the school district.

According to Anderson, she directed the parent toward the plan that the school district had in place in regards to COVID-19.

“We had a plan in place to use a mask mandate in conjunction with the state’s mask mandate,” said Anderson.

Anderson said that they never implemented their own mask mandate and the only mandate that was in place was with the state. When Gov. Tony Evers’ mask mandate for the state had expired, the district followed suit, as outlined in their plan.

Anderson also said that Shawano School District still encourages the use of masks in the school district as well as practicing other COVID-19 measures.

“We will continue to maintain mitigation measures including physical distancing, cohorting, frequent handwashing, daily full-cleaning protocols and contact tracing in coordination with our local health department within our facilities,” said Anderson.