School district to require masks through at least September
Editor’s Note: This story originally indicated that the face-covering requirement would be mandated through at least October. Face-coverings will be required through September; in October, Superintendent Craig Gerlach will determine whether the mandate should be extended. We apologize for the error.
By Brandi Makuski
The Stevens Point Area Public School District announced on Thursday that all students and staff would be required to wear a mask or other face-covering beginning on Aug. 23.
Face-coverings will be required anytime a person is indoors on a school district campus, and on all school buses—regardless of their vaccine status. Face-coverings will not be required for outdoor activities including recess, outdoor classrooms/learning, outdoor athletics, or when actively eating and drinking.
“Over the course of the next few weeks, we will welcome approximately 7,100 students and 1,200 team members back into our 15 schools and other district buildings,” a press release from the district reads in part. “Our primary responsibility to our students, and this community, is to maintain and evaluate mitigation strategies that preserve face-to-face educational opportunities for students.”
Superintendent Craig Gerlach said the district was following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and the Portage Co. Health Department
“We believe that keeping this mitigation tactic in place as we return to school, provides the best chance of maintaining in-person learning, 5 days a week for the highest number of students,” he said in the press release.
The district will re-evaluate the issue at the end of September.
Students and staff members who’ve been told by a doctor that they should not wear a mask should contact their building principal.
“Please know this decision has not been made lightly,” Gerlach said in the press release. “We take seriously our responsibility to provide students and staff the safest learning environment to the extent possible in these continued circumstances.”
The first day of classes for public school students is Sept. 2.