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Rib Lake residents renew complaints about mask rules

Rib Lake residents renew complaints about mask rules Rib Lake residents renew complaints about mask rules

Just days after deciding to keep mask rules in place at the schools, members of the Rib Lake school board on April 8 heard from parents and community members urging them to reconsider the action.

Speaking during the Public Input portion of the meeting Sue Thums urged board members to reconsider their action stating that she did not believe there was conclusive evidence that masks worked to slow the spread of COVID-19 and raising questions about the potential for psychological harm due to the masks being worn. “This is a violation of our personal freedom,” she said, echoing statements that had been made during the April 5 special meeting on the mask issue.

A parent speaking at the meeting said she felt it should be the parents who decide if their children wear them. She noted that she cannot wear a mask herself and has been unable to attend her children’s sporting events due to the mask rules for those in attendance. She also noted that her child’s chiropractor said her child’s recurring nosebleeds were due to mask use. She called on the school to change the mask rules and to make a decision on how school would take place next fall so that she could decide if she should pull her students or not.

“I think you are in a hard spot,” said another parent. She thanked the board for keeping school 5-days a week this year, but asked them to reconsider their position on continuing the mask rules. She said she wants her child to have the option to wear a mask. She said for as much science supporting the masks, there are others who do not support their use.

Board member Jason Dananay reported on attending a CESA 9 board of control meeting the previous evening and the question among the school representatives there was what metrics are being used to make informed decisions. He suggested the district’s health and wellness committee should get together with Taylor County health officials and identify what types of numbers board members should be looking at in making decisions for the school. “There is a lot of uncertainty,” Dananay said, “At least with metrics we have a better informed decision.”

Thums again addressed the board suggesting that the low COVID-19 numbers in the school are not due to masks or other measures being taken, but are due to her belief that young people are not spreaders of the disease.

“Where do my freedoms start and my freedoms end?” asked board member Rollie Thums. Rollie Thums had led the unsuccessful attempt to stop the mask rule at the April 5 meeting. Since he was on the losing side in that vote he cannot bring it up for reconsideration. He said people should instead focus on the other board members who had voted in favor of keeping the mask rules in place.

“I understand the passion on both sides of the fence,” said board president Steve Martin. He explained that it was not on the agenda for action at that meeting so no action would be taken that night. He said it has been a tough subject and that personally he is a proponent of individual rights and freedoms. “It was a tough decision,” Martin said, about his vote to keep the mask rules in place. He said his number one objective is to have the kids back in school where they are being instructed by professionals. He said the district’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have been a moving target and said that they could not know what part of their multiprong effort was most effective, but that they didn’t want to take the chance with the end of the school year so close.

A parent asked what it would take to get a special meeting called, expressing concern about waiting until the May regular board meeting. District administrator Rick Cardey said that he would be meeting with county health director Patty Krug and could ask about the metrics they should be following. He also noted that he would be following what is happening in districts that relaxed their mask rules and could put it on a future agenda.

Teacher Matt Robisch cautioned about being too quick to look at special meetings noting that it causes issues in the classroom to revisit masks every week.

Parent Jay Thums asked the board if they had ever polled the students to see what they feel about the mask rules. Robisch replied that if you asked the students they may want to have a beer party too. “That is why they have to be 18 to do many things in our society,” he said.

With no item on the agenda, nor any action to revisit the vote from April 5, board members took no formal action on the issues raised during the public input.

In other business, board members:

_ Received an update on efforts to fill the school nurse position in partnership with the Taylor County Health Department. “We have big shoes to fill,” Cardey said.

_ Received an update on the plans for graduation, field trips, spring concerts and prom. Graduation will be held outdoors on May 28 with the gym as a rain location. If it goes into the gym, there will be limits on the number of people able to be in attendance. The band concert will be held on April 20 in the student parking lot of the high school with the choir concert set for May 11 at the high school gym. Elementary principal Jon Dallmann reported on the planned school field trips, noting they are an important part of the end of year activities in the district. “I want them out and learning,” he said.

The high school prom will be held on June 5. “We want it to have the look and feel the same,” said principal Kirsten Budimlija, noting they still have to be aware of some limitations at the same time for protections.

_ Reviewed the summer school offerings. The district is planning summer school as usual this year including the return of swimming lessons at the Medford city pool. Cardey said he feels learning how to swim is an important skill for the students in their life. He noted that because swimming is considered a close contact activity, there is a greater chance that the students involved could end up in a quarantine. “I believe the reward is worth the risk,” he said, noting he does not want to have years where kids don’t learn how to swim.

_ Approved contracting with Randy Thums for $5,013 to dig out and put in a base of granite near the elementary school parking lot. The area will improve parking lot safety by separating the school buses from parents. The hope is to eventually pave the area after the granite compacts and forms a solid base. Randy Thums was the low bidder for the project with the other bid received from Wisco for $7,200.

_ Approved the dental insurance contract with Delta Dental with no increase in cost. Cardey noted that for the past few years the company has had a rate increase.

_ Approved contracting with Kulps Roofing to replace two sections of roof at the elementary school this June as a way to save money due to the increased cost of product. If the work is done before July 1 the price for the two roof sections would be $91,027 compared to $102,148 if the district were to wait until after July 1. Cardey said this was due to materials costs making a large jump. He said between 2019 to 2021 there has been a 14% increase in costs. Cardey said that by doing them at the end of the school’s budgetary year they can break the bills into two budgets. This will also put about 90% of the existing roofs in the district under warranty.


Board vice president Stacy Tlusty presented a plaque to board president Steve Martin for his years of service to the school district and students of Rib Lake. Martin did not run for reelection this spring. Martin said it has been both a tremendous and humbling experience to serve on the school board. “We really don’t realize how many moving parts go into running even a small district,” he said. Martin said he was not a fan of school when he was a student and was talked into running for the board when he moved back to the area in 2008. He said he has loved working with everyone on the board during the past 9 years he has served. “There are a lot of team members that make the wheels turn,” he said.BRIAN WILSON/THE STAR NEWS
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