GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Should the Green Bay Area Public School District require face masks for people who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19? With school coming back in just over a month, community members will now have an opportunity to voice their thoughts.
“Last year in August is when we made the decision to start the year virtual. We’re about in that same timeframe in terms of making the decision on what to do about masks,” said School Board President, Eric Vanden Heuvel. “We knew that we would have to eventually make our decision on what to do. A lot of families have said they’re trying to make the decision on what to do for the fall, and July is sort of that opportunity.”
A special listening session is set for Sunday evening, ahead of a special board meeting Monday night to decide whether to follow or deviate from the CDC guidelines for return to school.
“Part of that [decision] is going to be getting feedback from our community and seeing where the community is at on the issue before voting on it the next day on the 26th,” Vanden Heuvel said. “Each board member has to weigh and decide, based on that feedback, based on the science, a lot of different factors – on what they want to do.”
Those CDC guidelines include face masks when indoors for everyone age 2 and older who has not been fully vaccinated. Since vaccines have only been authorized for people 12 and older, those in ages 2-12 would be required to wear masks indoors.
“Through this entire process, there has been very little consensus on any given issue. So I would imagine there’s going to be people calling in on both sides,” Vanden Heuvel told WTAQ News. “There’s obviously political connotations to it as well, so we’ll give people the opportunity to share their perspectives.”
Since special meetings do not include public comment portions, the board is holding an online listening session at 5 p.m. Sunday. Anyone interested in speaking will need to fill out the Virtual Listening Session Public Participation Form. The form will be available until 4 p.m. Friday. Speakers will be limited to three minutes and will be called on in the order their forms were received.
Parents and guardians can also share their thoughts by emailing boardofeducation@gbaps.org.
Monday’s board meeting is set for 5 p.m.
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