GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Green Bay’s school board members were all ears Sunday night.
At a virtual listening session, parents let their opinions about the plan for school this fall be known, three minutes at a time.
“The decision to suspend in-person classes, or requiring masks in school, is based on fear and not facts,” Brad Jensen said. “I’ll be able to forward links upon request for the sources of my assertions.”
80 people were lined up to talk. Many of them argued that students are at little risk of COVID-19, including Martin Webber.
“They will experience long-term negative affects of insufficient mental, emotional, social and physical development. The damage that will be done far outweighs the minimal risk of the coronavirus.”
Parents like Barbara Coniff accused the district of ignoring the input of its survey that had a majority of families request in-person class.
“The primary purpose of the school district is to educate our students. If all businesses and services used criteria identified by school administration for their operations, we would have no on-site access to hospitals, medical clinics, supermarkets, or services… because they’d all close and move online.”
Other people supported distance learning.
Katie Moss said: “keep in mind faculty and staff that will be exposed to the coronavirus.”
Abie Vang is one of those teachers.
“I’m greatly concerned for the well-being of all my students. I’m a English language teacher who works with students from marginalized communities everyday. My specific concern is for the well-being of my students of color and my students who are economically disadvantaged.”
The school board will choose between off-site learning and a blended approach of in-person and online class tonight in a special meeting set to begin at 5 p.m.
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