MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Manitowoc Public School District is requiring face masking while inside.
Superintendent Mark Holzman said he is requiring them because, while he can run a school with half of its students, he cannot run a school in-person with half of its staff.
He also tells FOX 11 that universal masking can result in less quarantining for students and staff.
“My plan will be to communicate with our staff and our families in the next 24 hours, letting them know what they can expect for the first day of school.”
The district says the community burden rate is higher than this time one year ago, so Holzman says that wearing masks in school could lead to less quarantining.
“We know that wearing masks is not ideal for all, but we also know that I’m looking for strategies,” said Holzman. “To make sure that we can keep our students in in-person learning and do the activities and celebrate the way we have been able to do in the past.”
Board member Collin Braunel doesn’t view masks as necessary.
“Body language makes up a very significant portion of communication. So there’s facial expressions, that eliminates communication between teacher and student. I look at somebody with a mask, I can’t tell if they’re smiling or frowning. So then trust, I think, is decreased as well.”
As the pandemic continues through the school year, Holzman states the mask mandate could change.
“We’ll look at out local health data, we’ll look at how many students and staff might be positively infected, and have to be out because of COVID, and we will, as soon as we see opportunities to make changes, we’ll do so.”
One Manitowoc school parent thinks a mask mandate inhibits their freedom, and she would much rather be able to make the best decisions for her daughters health.
Manitowoc joins school districts in Green Bay, Appleton and Oshkosh in starting the year with a mask mandate.
