Marshfield School Board Requiring Masks for the Start of the Next School

Thursday, August 12th, 2021 -- 9:13 AM

(WDLB) Marshfield's public school students will be required to wear masks while also being allowed to attend in-person classes everyday this fall.

According to WDLB, during an emotionally-charged meeting, the Marshfield Board of Education voted unanimously last night in favor of implementing a mask requirement as part of the district's back-to-school start-up plan.

That plan calls for everyday, in-person learning with an indoor mask requirement for all teachers, staff and students, regardless of vaccination status. Superintendent Dr. Ryan Christianson said, first and foremost, the district's job is to protect the health, safety and welfare of students and staff members.

And he said the mask requirement gives the district the best chance of keeping kids in school for hands-on, face-to-face instruction for the longest period of time. 

Of the dozens of parents and other district residents in attendance at last night's meeting, most of them had one sticking point with the back-to-school plan, making kids wear masks.

During a public comment period at the start of the meeting, Tim Sternitzky spoke against any mask mandate. And he gave statistics, which he did not site his source on.

The back-to-school plan and the mask mandate did have their supporters, most of whom chose to email or telephone their comments to board members and district officials.

But at least one supporter of the plan did speak out publicly last night. Melanie Kretschmer, one of just a handful of the dozens in attendance who wore a mask, sited her daughter's medical conditions for wanting the district to implement the mask requirement.

Other aspects of the back-to-school plan implemented last night include a federal requirement that makes masks and face coverings mandatory on school busses, per an order from the C-D-C.

And there will also be restricted access to buildings for parents and volunteers, along with staggered recess and lunch periods.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.