Mask debate heats up in Gresham board meeting

Angry words were exchanged by parents and members of the Gresham School Board on Aug. 31 as the board debated whether to reinstate a masking policy that was rescinded in June one day before the new school year was to begin.

No action was taken to change the district’s current stance on recommending masks but not mandating them, However, parents in the audience were baffled as to why requiring masks was even being considered, especially when Superintendent Newell Haffner said there were zero cases reported of COVID-19 within the district, although there were cases in surrounding school districts.

“It doesn’t mean it’s not there,” Haffner said. “It just means we haven’t had a reported case, so I’m saying, based on you guys giving me the power, we’re mask-optional. To me, nothing has changed.”

Board member Doug Huck said that the power to change the mask requirements in the district should fall to the board, claiming it was unfair to put the burden on Haffner’s shoulders. He noted that when the data in June showed COVID-19 numbers statewide were dropping, the board made the decision to drop its mask mandate in the hopes of attracting people for summer school.

Now, the state numbers are trending upward, so Huck feels requiring masks for a short time would be a safe option.

“Last year, when we were in school, everybody was masked, and I think that’s a reasonable course,” Huck said. “I think the most effective way we can control the COVID disease is to mask up for a while. If the numbers continue to stay low in the district, then we can take a look at it.”

Board member Joe Ejnik disagreed with the idea, noting that the board gave Haffner the power to decide on masks for a reason, and it shouldn’t be going back on its word. He said the statistics and science can be interpreted different ways, with different studies saying different things about the same issue.

Ejnik noted that 91% of the deaths from COVID-19 in Wisconsin have been people over the age of 60. He said the school is the most controlled environment in the community, and maybe there should be more concern about letting kids pig out on candy bars instead of the chance of getting the coronavirus.

“We need to worry more about our elderly folks than pushing it onto our kids,” Ejnik said. “Our kids have been shown to handle it very well. I don’t know why we have to keep going after the kids. I don’t see why we have to hit the panic button right now.”

The masking issue has polarized the community, according to Haffner, to the point where people he once liked and respected called him vulgarities because the district was requiring masks last year.

“The only thing that’s driving me nuts right now is that people can’t have a decent discussion about it,” Haffner said. “We get mad. We start hating people all because of a piece of cloth. That’s bull. We’re better people than this. Our community is better than this.”

Haffner noted that available substitute teachers are few and far between, which prompted concern from board president Alphia Creapeau about what would happen if a teacher contracted the virus, and a classroom had to be shut down.

“We better pray that a teacher doesn’t get it,” Haffner said.

Parent Amber Fischer feels the decision about whether children should have to wear masks should be determined by parents, not the school district.

“This is enough with this controlling our kids and our families,” Fischer said. “Enough. Let’s get back to normal.”

Some of the community statements did not sit well with a couple of board members. Board member Jim Hoffman lashed out at one of the speakers, noting he’d known the person for over 30 years, but he wasn’t too accommodating to threats.

“I’m going to do what I think is best on one issue,” Hoffman said. “If anything starts to slide, I’m going to be one of the first ones to say we’ve got to put masks on so we can keep the school open.”

Shannon Holsey, president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Council, said her tribe was ready to help out with whatever the district needed, whether it was providing masks and hand sanitizer or helping to provide COVID-19 testing and vaccines. She noted that there are currently 85 active COVID-19 cases in the county, and community transmission risk is high, adding that the tribe is requiring face masks within its boundaries.

“We know it offers a level of safety for everybody,” Holsey said. “We’re here for you. We are good stewards, and we want to have a meaningful and robust relationship because we do care.”

Community member Deanna Bisley argued that masks should be mandatory, noting that Shawano County’s vaccination rate is very low at 40%.

“Right now, the state of Mississippi has a similar vaccination rate, and I think we all know what’s going on in the southeast,” Bisley said. “Thirty-four counties are experiencing very high COVID-19 cases, with nine of them around us.”

The district will look at a COVID-19 plan first at its policy committee, which meets Sept. 7, and then the full board is expected to vote on the issue Sept. 13.

lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com