APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Appleton Area School District’s board voted Monday night to require face masks for everyone, effective Wednesday.
The board voted last month to make them optional for all students. Then, district administrators sent a letter out last week saying the policy would be revised.
Before the meeting started, protests took place outside the district office. Community members both for and against the mandate were on opposite sides of the street protesting.
“I think this was a a breaking point for a lot of people, we won’t be forced to comply with something that’s not a law or way of living,” said Andrea Klitzke, an AASD parent.
But right across the street, wearing masks, stood other community members supporting a mask mandate to start the school year. Including elementary school science and math teacher, Dory Witzeling.
“I’m older, and I’m a little braver, and so it’s like I have a right to my opinion about what I think is safe and both for my students, and colleagues, and myself.”
The district recommended the change due to an increasing spread of COVID-19 and the delta variant.
“There are people who are at risk, I’ll have students with asthma in my classroom. I have a teacher friend who has a kid with breathing issues and we don’t have a choice,” said Witzeling. “We have to either quit our jobs or accept students that are not masking in our room.”
But, Klitzke, parent to an incoming first-grader, tells FOX 11 the choice should be left to individuals.
“If they want to mask their children I don’t have a problem with that, it’s not us imposing on their freedoms, they’re imposing on ours.”
Despite the board’s decision, Klitzke says her kid will go unmasked, and so will others.
“We have a couple people signing forms saying they won’t consent to our children wearing masks and they won’t be segregated or treated differently based upon that.”
But, Witzeling tells FOX 11 she fears students will refuse to wear masks.
“I think it’s important to follow the science and understand there are people who are at risk.”
The board is expected to revisit the policy in October.
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