Parents question COVID handling at Rib Lake schools

A group of parents attended the January 15 Rib Lake School Board meeting to voice concerns over how the school is handling the COVID-19 precautions and how it is impacting their child’s education and well-being.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, parents expressed concern about recent changes implemented and continued contact tracing and quarantining which is disrupting education for many students in the district.

Board member Rollie Thums said “If it were up to me, the doors of this school would be wide open, and we would only worry about the kids who are sick. We also get a lot of funding through the CDC, and if you don’t go by their guidelines, they will threaten the school district, and they come through with their threats. Rib Lake can’t afford a threat. I went through this with Patty Krug yesterday, and what I’ve been hearing is if we go to the “5-5 rule,” as we call it, and we allow them to come to school with a mask on, and if they don’t have any symptoms, then they have no mask after the tenth day. I think that is the best option when it comes to bringing kids back to school faster. My concern is what do we do with the parents?”

Those in attendance said if the child is sent to school as a close contact without a mask on, the disciplinary action, should come down on the parent.

“Ultimately, it will all fall on the principal and staff members. You’ve also have to educate people on how this new policy will work,” said district administrator Rick Cardey. “I’ve known most of you for the last 25 years, and I agree that you are all great parents because you are here advocating for your kids. If we get into this new policy, then [school nurse Maris Pernsteiner] might be able to spend more time with the kids who are sick and are sending them to school anyway. I understand kids, I wear the weight of the world of 600 kids. I’m all about kids, I have spent the last 25 years as an administrator here providing opportunities for students. I feel like the last two years have gone against everything that I believe in because we have lost opportunities. I am proud this year we have kept opportunities, we have kept things open as best we can, and we’ve tried to give choices.”

Cardey continued to say “So, to address a couple things the percentage is a percentage. The closer we get to that percentage we see if we are having a problem and that number was not an influential one because it wasn’t spreading to the kids everyday. I certainly see the social side, I seem like a very shy and quiet guy, but I’m pretty social, I’m the one who said let’s go to rows this week because I have been keeping kids apart in pods, where four kids are facing each other across. I just figured for the next two weeks have the kids go back to old-school rows, because that is human nature, but it is also good for kids. That’s why we don’t have many desks here anymore.

Cardey stressed the point when he said “Appreciate the staff too because we are coming in on behalf of kids, we are going to make this work, we have to keep that in mind.”

Lastly, Cardey mentioned, “Maris is very good at her job, she has a tough job. We meet daily, and she doesn’t get counseling pay, because us as staff members get frustrated, because the rules change from yesterday.”

Henderson added “I heard of a school that they the were performing rapid tests on kids and as long as the tests came back negative, they could stay in school. I’m sure that might not be an option because there are probably a shortage of them. I thought that would be a good option for kids who are close contact. We have great teachers here who are helping these kids get through these difficulties of being behind in school.”

“I am in favor of the 5-5 rule, if it keeps kids in school more,” said Nicole Glenzer. “I don’t believe the masks work like they are supposed to, unless they are N95 grade, but if the numbers go up, from keeping the kids in school, then we can have another meeting and change the route, but for now let’s just follow the 5-5 rule. This virus isn’t going away, so we might as well work with what we can to keep the kids in school.”

When asked how far to push the envelope, when it comes to following the guidelines in order to get COVID funding, Cardey explained, “The school has immunity. We have immunity as a district as long as we act in prudent matters when it comes to COVID related guidelines. Masking is recommended, so we chose not to. I make a call once every three weeks to the insurance agent and ask him are we stepping over the line too far, but the one thing, we’ve always talked about is make decisions that aren’t gonna put us out there to litigation. If they don’t follow the recommended guidelines, and the mandate the insurance company can back out because of it.

Pernsteiner reported that since Christmas break, there have been nine positive cases of COVID-19. Currently including staff and students, there 84 people out on quarantine. There are two positive cases in the elementary school, two in the middle school, and five positive cases in the high school.

Starting Monday, January 17, masks will have to be worn for children who come in close contact with positive case students, will have to follow the 5-5 rule.

In other business:

_ Spring elections are between Mitch Peters and Amanda Treffinger. Rollie Thums is running un-opposed, as an at large position.

_ Rick Cardey announced plans to retire district administrator, requesting his retirement on June 30. Cardey had planned to retire following the 2020 school year, but had agreed to continue in the position rather than have a new administrator start during the COVID- 19 pandemic. The district will be conducting its own search for a new administrator to take over after Cardey’s retirement rather than hiring an outside firm to help with it.

_ Community Education is up and running. This week they have started with walking, and have morning walkers walking the halls of the elementary school early in the morning from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and then from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. There has been a lot of interest in it.

_ During the months of January, February, and March, the staff members are given challenges to help them physically, mentally and emotionally. To encourage the staff members to participate, if certain goals are met, gift certificates can be won.

_ John Dallmann talked about a reading specialist that will be coming in from Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA) to help out with letters training that the board approved during the summer professional development.

Dallmann also added by saying “We weren’t able to do the outdoor caroling with the little ones like we were supposed to, but I wasn’t going to take away from the kids visiting the nursing home. So that went on as planned.”

_ Thums complimented the school on the Christmas Program and how he liked how structured the concert was. Thums added by saying, “I didn’t have grandkids in all of the lower schools like I used to, so I could just come for the upper grades and not feel like I was taking space away from anyone else because I was there for the whole concert.” He is hoping to have that same format for next year.

_ Kirsten Budimlija updated the board on how the high school has started student of the month, and this month is Acacia Gustafson. There is also a Prom Perfect event coming up at the school to students who can’t afford a prom dress, students can come pick up a prom dress for free that is coming up on February 1. Mrs. Taylor County will be sponsoring that event.

_ A chess club has started up again every Tuesday night, students can get together to play chess after school.

_ A school bus blew out a tire, on Wednesday, luckily no students were on the bus at the time. The bus is being repaired and inspected.

_ Resignation: Ginger Logan, who is a elementary special education aid. She is hoping to still come back and substitute. Her last day is the end of February.

_ Kent Peterman was hired as maintenance/ groundskeeper position.

_ Adult lunch prices were set at $4.65/serving. The increase for adult meals is required in order to continue to receive federal food service aids. Under the COVID funds, school lunches are provided free for all students in the district.

_ Board members approved continuing the hockey co-op with Medford.

_ The fitness center leg press machine is over 15 years old, it was bought used, and the district is now looking for a new machine at a cost of $5,494, with $250 to ship it, and $275 to install it. This would be a total cost of $6,024 to be paid out of the fitness center funds.