Menomonie School Board for Oct. 3 canceled

This meeting has been canceled as of Saturday afternoon.

On Monday Sept. 27 the Menomonie School Board changed the masking policy for the district to require masks on all students in grades K-6 until such time that vaccines became available for students in that age range. 

The new proposed policy defines a convoluted policy that calls for gradated masking in reponse to exposure of students in a class. The policy is attached below, but reads as follows:

Indoor Graduated Masking Policy for Grades 4K-6.

Until such time that students in grades K-6 have the opportunity to become fully vaccinated, the district administrator, in conjunction with the SDMA school nurses, will implement the following graduated masking policy for students in grades 4K-6:

In the event that a student or staff member attended school within 48 hours of having a confirmed case of COVID-19,

(1.) All non-excluded 4K-6 grade students (regardless of vaccination status) in the classrooms where the infected person spent at least 15 minutes will be required to wear masks for a time period covering 14 calendar days.

(2.) If additional cases of COVID-19 occur in the same grade level during the 14-day time period, the masking requirement may be expanded to the entire grade level for an additional period of 14 calendar days.

(3.) If the average number of COVID-19 student exclusions in any particular school exceeds 10% over the previous five school days, masks may be required for all 4K-6 grade students at that school for a period of 14 calendar days.

In the event that masks become mandated in a classroom, grade level, or school building:

? The mask mandate only refers to the school day, and while indoors.

? The mask mandate is not dependent on the age or vaccination status of individual students in those grade levels.

? Medical exemptions from the mask mandate will be allowed if appropriate documentation from a medical doctor is provided.

? Masks can be removed for eating, drinking, and during rigorous physical activity.

? Masks will not be required for any optional school functions that occur outside of the school day.

? Teachers will be allowed to use their discretion to provide mask breaks when adequate distancing can be achieved (at least 6') or when students are seated silently at their desks.

? Staff members are strongly encouraged to follow the same masking protocols as their students.

This mask policy will end for all SDMA students after students in grades K-6 have the opportunity to become fully vaccinated (estimated to be approximately 6 weeks after children first become eligible for the vaccine). Students are not required to be vaccinated for this policy to end.

Today the district announced that there will be a special board meeting on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 1 PM to consider the masking policy again.  The meeting will be live-streamed here. 

(Per Wis. Stat. § 19.84(2))

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE MENOMONIE AREA NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

MENOMONIE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

1715 5TH STREET W.,

MENOMONIE, WISCONSIN

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2021, 1:00 P.M.

This meeting will be live-streamed at: https://ensemble.cesa10.k12.wi.us/Watch/j2TAb89N .

Please note that in accordance with Board Policy 187, community communications will not be included at this special meeting of the Board. Written comments to the Board may be added to the record by emailing [email protected] before 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 3, 2021.

AGENDA

I. OPENING ITEMS

A. Call to Order

B. Roll Call and Quorum

C. Agenda Order and Approval/Revision

II. ACTION AGENDA

A. Action to Modify the SDMA Masking Policy

III. ADJOURNMENT

A. Action to Adjourn

The agenda as noted above was posted more than twenty-four hours prior to the meeting date; therefore, this agenda and the agenda as published in the Dunn County News may have since been revised. The most up-to-date agenda information is available on the district website. This agenda is posted at the Menomonie Area School District Administrative Services Center, and on the district website at www.sdmanonline.com under the School Board link.