Cadott School Board; Early release, hybrid worked into tiered COVID response

By Julia Wolf

As an informational item on the agenda, the Cadott School Board discussed what a tiered COVID protocol plan should entail.

The draft plan based the tiered levels of response on the percentage of students excluded from school, because of positive cases or quarantines.

The proposed plan had Level 1 for 0-15 percent positive or quarantined, Level 2 at 15-20 percent and Level 3 over 20 percent.

Under the draft, mask use would be optional unless mandated by another agency (such as the federal mandate for transportation) at Level 1. In Level 2, masks would be required indoors when students are less than three feet apart, but not required in halls or during physical education. Visitors would be required to wear masks. Level 3 would carry over the changes from Level 2, with the addition of masks required in halls and visitors limited to student service providers.

Cleaning protocols would stay the same as they currently are, until Level 3, when additional sanitizing would take place between classes. Busing would also remain the same until Level 3, in the proposed plan, when additional routes would be added, if possible.

The draft plan has that the district will follow WIAA or other association guidance for activities. The athletics and activities operate as a traditional year during Level 1, with the possibility of limiting spectators and no concessions available at Level 2. Level 3 would see spectator attendance limited and masks required for spectators.

During public comment, four parents urged the school board members to leave masking up to families and keep it optional.

“One thing I’d like to start off with is, basically, when we try to have a conversation about this, it wasn’t just to slam masks on kids right away,” said Al Sonnentag, board president.

Sonnentag says the idea is to determine if the number or percentage of kids sick reaches a certain number, if there should be a plan.

“And if we did have a plan, what would that look like?” said Sonnentag.

District administrator Jenny Starck said she used multiple schools’ plans as a base to form the draft plan, but did make the threshold numbers higher.

“That is open for feedback,” said Starck.

Starck asked if there is a point where they would have to look at a hybrid model, where students are split in two groups, attending some days in-person and the opposite days virtually.

“I’ll say, that’s not very efficient,” said Starck, adding the model poses challenges for families and staff.

Christine Rowe, board member, asked how many teachers would have to be missing before they had to shut down the school because of it.

Starck says that depends on if they can find enough substi- tutes, but that they were very close to needing to shut down the prior week.

“There were maybe 10 or 11 out at our elementary,” said Starck.

Rowe asked the principals if they would be able to switch to a hybrid model, if the need suddenly arose over the next week or two.

Junior and senior high principal Caleb Hundt said they could switch pretty quickly. Starck says they would be able to carry over some of the organizing from last year, where blended families were home at the same time. She also noted there are Chromebooks and chargers on backorder, and they have the same internet access issues as last year.

Terri Goettl, elementary school principal, agreed having enough chargers is probably the biggest issue right now.

“It would be really, really helpful if there was some plan for how we’re going to deal with the future,” said Goettl, adding that the staff does an excellent job working with what they have.

Hundt says they did iron out issues around different classes using different online platforms for homework assignments and communication, so now all classes use Google Classroom and Skyward, with the exception of one class with an exemption.

Goettl said she thought it was helpful for teachers and staff last year, when the school days were shortened slightly, so teachers had time to touch base with virtual learners.

Meagan Sonnentag, Cadott parent, asked if the quarantine rules are different if her student was to wear a mask. Starck says quarantine rules are set by the public health department and the difference masks make for quarantines, is reducing the distance to within three feet of each other, instead of six feet, if both people are wearing a mask.

Brad Sonnentag, board member, said there are actually two issues – those who are sick and those who are quarantined.

“We have lots and lots of students who are out quarantined, how do we teach to those students?” asked B. Sonnentag.

B. Sonnentag suggested taking other measures at Level 2, such as spreading students out more in the classroom, instead of masking right away.

“Everybody here wants kids to be in school and have fun and learn,” said B. Sonnentag.

Starck says they could say the levels in the tiered plan could be only based on positive cases, instead of lumping positive cases and quarantines together. She also says turning to a hybrid system would allow more physical distancing, if there is a flair in cases.

B. Sonnentag also suggested they look at other ways to tackle quarantines, referencing information on Grantsburg’s policy.

“What some districts have chosen to do, is just not follow public health quarantine rules,” said Starck, but said she feels that puts the district at a higher level of risk, than taking masking off the table.

Starck says they have had people who were quarantined and then tested positive.

A. Sonnentag asked if, instead of quarantine, those told to quarantine could be in school, self-monitoring for symptoms, but wearing a mask.

“Until their quarantine times would be up,” said A. Sonnentag.

Starck said students in athletics would need to continue to follow WIAA rules, if they want to participate in events.

Cory LaNou, board member, asked if students/families would be monitoring, or if the district would take temperatures at the door. Starck says the district has not monitored temperatures in the past, unless a student is obviously sick or complains of not feeling well.

LaNou says he doesn’t trust all parents equally to help their children self-monitor, adding it only takes one “bad actor” to get many people sick. He says he has seen that even in basic flu season.

He also says he doesn’t feel comfortable telling people who don’t want to wear a mask that they have to, because he is not a medical professional. LaNou says, with the exception of one person who contacted him, the only time people were in favor of masks, is if it prevents a school shut-down.

“Last year, when this debate came up, we were very concerned about people being able to plan for this year,” said LaNou, adding they said during past meetings that they were not going to change the mask plan, so people were able to plan for the year ahead.

He says he thinks it is unfair to go back on their word now. LaNou says they should take mask use out of the plan, because it is so controversial and they already made their decision to make masks optional, unless mandated by state or federal authorities.

Board member Becca Blanchette says, whether they believe in masks or not, masking is a way to reduce quarantines.

“Whether you believe in it or not, it’s the system that we have,” said Blanchette.

LaNou says he struggles to believe they can keep kids three feet apart, when they can’t keep them six feet apart. Blanchette says the only factors they have to play with to help their numbers are distance and masks.

A. Sonnentag asked if the early end time for the day should be added into the tiered plan. Goettl says shortened days would help staff meet all students’ needs.

“I would say your hybrid model should be implemented once you get to a certain threshold of people out, to avoid more people out,” said Hundt. “It should be one of your mitigation measures.”

He says that would avoid half the students being in contact with each other.

Starck suggested that if they go with the hybrid model, they stay with that for a couple of weeks, so bus schedules are not shifting constantly.

The item was not set for action, but board member feedback was to keep the mask policy as it currently stands, with early end times near Level 2 and the hybrid system around Level 3, with exact thresholds set later.

“This is really less about how many kids are infected before we have to start quarantining or doing a hybrid model, it’s more about, can the teachers effectively teach the kids?” said LaNou, adding they are trying to find the point when teachers need more help.

Starck also agreed she would check with legal counsel how immunity protection would be influenced by changes to the district’s quarantine protocols.

The changes to the tiered plan will be up for discussion at the upcoming meeting, with action slated on the issue at the next regular meeting, unless a special meeting is set.

“I think a big thing we have to remember as parents is, if your kid is not feeling well, keep them home,” said A. Sonnentag.

The Employee Handbook for the 2021-22 school year, was approved during the business portion of the meeting.

The board also voted to do a formal request for proposals (RFP) for long-term facilities planning.

Members also approved the resignation of Diane Dorman, special ed paraprofessional and Josh Hennes, family and consumer ed teacher.

Also approved, was the hire of Jessica Wellner, special ed paraprofessional; Jodi Fahrman, special ed paraprofessional; Jessica Switzer, special ed paraprofessional; Jasmine McHugh, family consumer ed teacher; Jessica Hager, varsity assistant girls basketball coach; and Jake Barone, varsity assistant boys basketball coach.