West Central has had three school board meetings since August 11 to discuss whether or not masks should be mandated within the schools.  A notion to approve the second reading the “Starting Well” plan, which included masks being worn within the school buildings, was passed by the school board on August 18.  (Photo/Melissa Voss)

Melissa Voss | Editor

For the past two weeks, the West Central School District has held three school board meetings with the heat being on one topic: mandating masks in school.  The discussion began on the August 11 meeting, where several West Central teachers brought up their concerns regarding masks not being a mandatory in the classrooms. Over the course of the three school board meetings, over forty teachers and parents came forward to the school board bringing up several concerns and personal stories of why students should or should not have wear masks in the school building.

Superintendent Brad Berens discussed the “Starting Well” plan’s revision regarding masks after at the August 17 meeting. 

According to Superintendent Beren’s reading of the revision of the “Starting Well” plan, “For grades K-5, if a student is not wearing their mask in school at the appropriate time or in the appropriate manner, staff and/or administrators will advise the student of proper mask use. Reinforcement of proper use is to be used to help students with appropriate mask use. Staff and/or administrators may communicate with a parent in the event a student demonstrates consistent non-compliance of wearing a mask. For grades 6-12, if a student is not wearing their mask in school at the appropriate time or in the appropriate manner, staff and/or administrators will advise the student of proper mask use. Failure to comply will be viewed as insubordination and may result in disciplinary action associated with insubordination as indicated in the discipline grid.”

However, Superintendent Berens stated that disciplinary action would not always be necessary to work with all consequences in this time with COVID-19,  “Because it is impossible to list every possible consequence and inappropriate behavior that occurs, the administration and staff reserve the right to administer alternative consequences to inappropriate behavior and to modify consequences when appropriate.” 

On August 18, the school board held the vote for the second reading of the “Starting Well” plan. The second reading included the subsection for masks, stating “Students – PreK-12th grade – masks are to be worn during the school day. Students are exempt when they are physically active in physical education, eating lunch, playing instruments in marching band, and when they are outside for recess. Staff – same as students.”

When come to a vote, President Paula Hawks made opened the board up to alternative notions before putting the vote for the second reading on the board.  Board member Justin Eich made a notion to revert back to the original “Starting Well” plan and ask for a survey be sent to parents regarding opinions on masks. No one seconded Eich’s motion. A motion was then moved to pass the second reading of the “Starting Well” plan and the motion passed with all approval except Eich’s.