Masking at teachers’ discretion for Cadott

Darci Tiegs, a Cadott parent, asked the board to make masks optional for students and leave the decision up to parents, during a regular meeting of the Cadott School Board May 10. After a vote by the board, masking requirements will be left up to teachers for their classroom, and masks will be required in hallways and during transportation, through May 28. After May 28, masks will be recommended, but not required. Photo by Julia Wolf

By Julia Wolf

As the 2020-21 school year nears its close, the Cadott School Board met to hash out mask requirements for the remainder of the year.

The discussion began with an opportunity for the public to make their voices heard.

Darci Tiegs, a mom of four school-aged children, says her children are not in the public school system this year, because it is against her and her husband’s beliefs to wear face coverings. She says her students want to come back to Cadott, maskless.

Tiegs says she thinks the decision of whether or not a student wears a mask, should be up to that student’s parents.

“Parents are capable of making medical, emotional, physical, mental, educational and spiritual decisions for our kids,” said Tiegs.

Cadott parent Jon Bowe says he talks to his kids each night, about their day.

“Every day, it seems like the subject gets to masks,” said Bowe. “Who got sent to the office that day for masks. Who, you know, whatever for masks. It almost must be a clown show down here every day.”

He says he thinks making masks optional would be a solution.

Amy Wellner, Cadott parent, presented a petition with 246 signatures to the board for making masks optional.

“We know what’s best for our kids,” said Wellner.

Wellner says those who want to wear a mask are entitled to do so. She says she doesn’t think those who do not want to wear a mask, should be forced to anymore.

“This is not about having 13 to 14 days left of school,” said Wellner. “We have track that goes until the end of June.”

Wellner also says her daughter would like to see faces, not masks, when she accepts her diploma during graduation.

Wellner says there are pros and cons to both sides, and that the board will never make everyone happy.

“I do feel you are wasting my tax dollars, you are wasting my time, you are wasting my students’ time, by enforcing a mask,” said Wellner.

Later in the meeting, Dr. Komi Modji, an epidemiologist, gave a presentation on data points the health department watches and the factors used to declare a local state of emergency is over.

Ced Boettcher, board member, says the job of the board is to keep students and employees safe, and noted that summer break is coming fast.

A motion to keep masks as mandatory through May 28, failed, with three in favor (Boettcher, Donna Albarado, Christine Rowe) and four opposed (Cory LaNou, Brad Sonnentag, Al Sonnentag, Becca Blanchette).

A. Sonnentag says he feels caught in the middle, because they do not know what is going on inside everyone’s house- hold, including if teachers are going home to someone who is sick, or living with an elderly or at-risk person.

He says he thinks some of the power should be given to teachers to regulate their own classroom. Sonnentag says he realizes that can make for some “muddy water” in some areas.

“It’s very hard for me to judge someone else, without walking a mile in their shoes,” said Sonnentag. “You just don’t necessarily know what everyone is dealing with at home.”

Blanchette says she worries that will put additional pressure on teachers, and could garner many emails from parents about why masks are, or are not, required in their classroom. She says she thinks the decision should come from the board or the administration.

“I think that’s putting the teachers in a really difficult spot,” said Blanchette.

Rowe also says students who want protection, lose it, when masks are optional in some classrooms.

“That’s kind of killing the purpose there a little bit, not for the teacher, but for the students,” said Rowe.

When it comes to the future, Jenny Starck, district administrator, says she is hesitant to promise anything, since things can change a lot between now and September.

She says they are thinking more optional masks for summer school, since students and staff can choose to do summer school. Starck also says they are better able to spread kids out over summer, because there are smaller numbers and they are able to go outside more often. She says she hopes that is the case going into next fall, too.

B. Sonnentag says he thinks they should vote for what they plan to do through next year, barring a state mandate.

“I think everybody needs to know where we stand and what’s happening,” said B. Sonnentag.

A motion passed to let teachers decide for their classroom whether masks are required, but keep masks required in hallways and during transportation, through May 28. After that point, masks are recommended, but not required. The motion passed with five in favor (LaNou, B. Sonnentag, Boettcher, A. Sonnentag, Albarado) and two opposed (Blanchette, Rowe).