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Sturgeon Bay School District to mask up beginning Monday

You will have to remember to wear your mask inside Sturgeon Bay School District buildings beginning on Monday.

 

The Sturgeon Bay School Board narrowly approved mandating masking indoors just before midnight Wednesday by a 5-4 vote. Students, staff, and visitors will not have to wear facial coverings if they are eating or are outdoors while practicing social distancing. The Board of Education did outline a number of exemptions that would allow students, staff and visitors to not have to wear a mask, many of which focus on medical concerns.

 

In the meantime, the board has to develop a set of criteria needed to lift the mandate no later than October 21st. If Door County's COVID-19 activity drops to medium or low, the board will have 10 days to call an emergency meeting to change or eliminate the requirement. In a letter sent to Sturgeon Bay families, Superintendent Dan Tjernagel thanked them for their civil approach to a divisive topic and for listening to their fellow community members whether they agree with their opinions or not.

 

You can read the full facial covering motion from the school board and the letter from Tjernagel below.

 

FACIAL COVERINGS ACTION TAKEN BY THE STURGEON BAY BOARD OF
EDUCATION ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2021
“To require that all staff, students, and visitors wear a facial covering when indoors on school property just before, during, and just after student school instruction time/days and while being transported in school buses and other school vehicles effective Monday, September 20, 2021.


The face coverings section, implementation section, student exceptions section, staff exceptions section and enforcement section of the 2020?2021 Board Approved Facial Covering Resolution are applicable to this motion.


The Board must determine, no later than October 21, the metrics we will use to end the facial covering requirement. However, if Door County moves to the medium or low COVID?19 Case Activity level as reported by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the Board must hold a special meeting within 10 business days to evaluate possible changes or elimination of this facial covering requirement.


And the added exemption also applies to Sturgeon Bay faculty and staff.”

The motion passed 5?4 at approximately 11:30 P.M.

Face coverings must:
Fully cover the mouth, nose, and chin and fit snugly
Be held secure through a tie, elastic, etc. to prevent slipping
Not create difficulty breathing while worn
Meet the requirements of the appropriate dress code policies and/or codes of conduct. (Board Policy 3216, 4216, and 5511)

 

Implementation:
Face coverings must be worn indoors at all times by students, staff, and visitors, except as otherwise provided herein.
No face coverings will be required while eating or drinking.
No face coverings will be required while outdoors, if social distancing of at least six (6) feet between individuals is maintained.
Students who forget or lose their mask will be provided a mask by the School District.
Alternative options or accommodations will be considered where an individual has a medical condition, mental health condition, intellectual or developmental disability, or other sensory sensitivities that prevent the individual from wearing a face covering.

 

Student Exceptions:
Individuals who have trouble breathing may be exempt.
Individuals who are unable to remove the face covering without assistance may be exempt.
Children younger than 2 years old will be exempt.
Individuals may be exempted from this requirement by a school administrator due to a
documented medical condition, mental health condition  intellectual or developmental
disability, or other sensory sensitivities that prevent the individual from wearing a face
covering.
In instances where facial coverings will significantly interfere with the teaching or learning process, an exemption may be made. This may apply to students who are deaf or hard of hearing, students receiving speech/language services, young students in early education programs, and English?language learners.
Exemptions may be made when engaging in work where a face covering would create a risk to the individual, as determined by governmental safety guidelines.

 

Staff Exceptions:
Individuals who have trouble breathing may be exempt.
Individuals who are unable to remove the face covering without assistance may be exempt.
Individuals working alone in a personal office or other non?shared space may be exempt.
Individuals who have a documented medical condition, mental health condition, intellectual or developmental disability, or other sensory sensitivities that prevent the individual from wearing a face covering may be exempt.
In instances where facial coverings will significantly interfere with the teaching or learning process, an exemption may be made. This exemption may apply to staff who are communicating with students who are deaf or hard of hearing, students receiving
speech/language services, young students in early education programs, and English?language learners.
When engaging in work where a face covering would create a risk to the individual, as
determined by governmental safety guidelines, an exemption may be made.

Enforcement:
The District will have face coverings available to provide to individuals.
Non?compliance by a student will result in the following progression:
1. Conference(s) with the building principal or designee
2. Written warning
3. Move to off?site virtual instruction for a period of time
Unless otherwise excused or exempted, failure of an employee to wear a face covering as required herein will subject the employee to discipline.
Visitors refusing to wear a face covering will be denied access to school property.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Additional information about the exception referenced at the end of the motion that also will apply to faculty and staff.


The reference is derived from page 11, paragraph three, of the COVID?19 Infection Control and Mitigation Measures for Wisconsin Schools 2021/2022 (August 10, 2021) in the paragraph below. While the guidance includes the exception in masked settings for students, the Board has extended this exemption to faculty and staff. This is not only because the same requirements will apply to students as well as faculty and staff, but because it would not help our community to have students be able to stay in the classroom when we don’t have a teacher for that classroom. 


“Note the CDC and DHS guidelines for the 2021?2022 school year include the added exception in the close contact definition for students in K?12 indoor classrooms who are within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore well fitting masks the entire time. This exception applies in the classroom. . .”

 

September 16, 2021 -- School Messenger Communication


Dear School District of Sturgeon Bay Families and Staff Members,

Late last night, our Board of Education voted 5-4 to require masks beginning on Monday, September 20, 2021. I will include a link to a two-page document that contains the actual information approved by our Board so you have those details, which will also be added to the website. As you can read in the document, additional work will need to occur involving metrics since we realize people do not want this change to be in place indefinitely.


As requested by our Board leadership, I also want to summarize a major change between last school year and this school year. This change, or exception, was a critical part of the Board’s decision to shift to masking, in addition to the request from leaders at DCMC.


Voluntary masking – If a student is in a classroom and then tests positive, that student and everyone who has been in “close contact” with that student in class needs to quarantine, thereby missing school. (Note: Vaccinated students and staff do not have to quarantine but must monitor for symptoms and wear a mask for a certain period of time.)


Universal masking – If a student is in a classroom and then tests positive, that student still needs to quarantine BUT everyone who has been in “close contact” with that student can continue to remain in school, unless they have symptoms. Under the current guidance and Public Health direction, with universal masking more students should get to stay in school. Additionally, with fewer students needing to quarantine, more parents can report to work whether at school, the hospital, or elsewhere.


I want to pause once again and thank everyone for their civil approach to such a divisive topic. Our school community members continue to respectfully hear the views of others, whether they agree with them or not. Our people also understand the importance of continuing to work together for the ultimate benefit of children, families, and our community. Thank you. There are many people elsewhere who could learn from how our Clipper community behaves even in these challenging and frustrating times.


As we transition from this week to next, some information will be removed from the website and additional information will be generated then added to the website. Stay tuned and thanks for staying informed.


Sincerely,
Dan Tjernagel, Superintendent

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