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Leipart says the conference has ….

Leipart says the conference has …. Leipart says the conference has ….

Leipart says the conference has put in safety procedures, something that was unknown in August, when the protocol was originally set.

Leipart also says the WIAA has put out strong warnings for athletic directors and school administrators, to make sure the athletic programs are following the guidelines set by the WIAA, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local health departments. He says the WIAA notified schools there was a superspreader event, related to basketball, in the state.

“It is real and can cause some serious problems,” said Leipart.

He says the recommendation is to try going back to the regular schedule and see if they can make it work.

“We’re still doing the masks, we’re still doing social distancing,” said Leipart.

He also said, if the board votes to allow sports to go back to regular play, he would also recommend they allow 3P Community Fitness Center to reopen.

Board member Darrell Thompson says he thinks the changes would be taking a step backward, given the current situation. He says he thinks the protocols should stay as-is.

“We don’t know if where they travel to is safe,” said Thompson, adding it is impossible to be certain everything is safe, even in their own building.

Board member Gina Timm also said she thinks the protocol should remain as is. Valorie Kulesa, board member, says she thinks the issue can be handled by coaches, administration and the opponents.

Leipart says that is what they are looking for – a policy to work with. He says coaches will be in the conversation, but when it comes down to it, it will be an administrative decision between Gilman and the opposing team’s school. Leipart says the policy will help the administration make the best decision.

Bruce Ewings Sr., board president, says he would like to see the games, but thinks they will need to continue to limit the number of spectators.

“I really don’t think that we want to fill the gym up with spectators,” said Ewings.

Jessica Wisocky, board member, agreed academics should be the primary focus of the school, but says sports help many students mentally.

“That mental piece is huge,” said Wisocky. “This is their outlet. This is their thing.”

Wisocky said she is in favor of giving some flexibility back to the administration. She says she thinks it is important to stress, that if spectators want to be there, they need to continue to follow social distancing rules.

Kulesa agreed that more spectators should be allowed, if they are limited to household members and they sit together. She also says the administration should keep an eye on the situation for both teams, and take it game by game, since things can change rapidly.

Jon Hess, grade five through 12 principal and athletic director, says the issue other schools had when more tickets were distributed, is students would get the tickets and student sections would form. Hess also says he thinks the conference limit is four tickets for household members, per student-athlete.

Kulesa also asked if there would be limits on the 3P Fitness Center, if they were to reopen it. Hess said there are restrictions for how many people can be in each room at a time, as well as reduced hours.

Members voted in favor of modifying the moderate risk category plan, to allow a regular athletics schedule and four spectators who are household members, as well as reopen the 3P Fitness Center, with five in favor (Ewings, Cheryl Ustianowski, Kulesa, Wisocky, Chris Skabroud) and two opposed (Timm, Thompson).

Board members also voted to extend virtual school board meetings through June 30, 2021. Leipart says, if they did not extend the current meeting practices, board members could still attend virtually, but he does not think board members would be able to vote virtually.

The hire of an eSucceed math teacher for the second semester was also approved, during the meeting.

As a notice to the public, there will be a School Forest Committee meeting Monday, Jan. 11, at 6 p.m., ahead of a special board meeting, where the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) will do training for the superintendent evaluation process.

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