Masks at Prairie’s Bluff View School optional
By Ted Pennekamp
Several Prairie du Chien School District residents were on hand to discuss the district’s Covid policy during Monday evening’s school board meeting.
Board member Dustin Brewer read an email from Prairie du Chien Assistant Youth Wrestling Coach Josh Rabbitt who said he is in favor of having no masks when wrestling, no matter what building the meet is being held in, Bluff View or the high school.
It was noted that the Youth Wrestling Program has a robust 67 wrestlers this season.
Head Youth Wrestling Coach Jim Hackett agreed with Rabbitt and said he is in favor of having no masks when wrestling. Hackett said the vaccine has been available to everyone and he asked the school board to give the students their choice on whether to wear masks or not. Hackett said most school districts in the area don’t have mask requirements while wrestling.
“The board should update Bluff View’s policy to get it in line with the high school’s,” said parent Carrie Perkins in part of her statement to the school board.
“We keep hearing about uptick, uptick,” said parent Amber Poole regarding reports of more positive Covid test results in the school district. “The masks are not protecting anyone.” Poole also said that everyone has had time to get vaccinated, including the youngest students.
“We need to make masking optional in grades K through 12,” said Poole.
Sherry Jazdzewski also told the board that she wants masking to be optional. Jazdzewski said the board talks too much about the Covid policy and needs to get back to concentrating on education.
High School Principal Paul Weisse said the staff has been doing an outstanding job of filling in for each other and helping each other during this difficult time. The principals at Bluff View and at B.A. Kennedy told the board much of the same.
District Administrator Andy Banasik said the district is doing as much as it can with a limited staff to keep all the buildings open. Banasik noted that the staff has been limited by illness and by a lack of substitute teachers.
District Nurse Ashley Burns appeared via audio and told the board that the Centers for Disease Control and Public Health of Crawford County have changed their guidelines. She said that if the school board changes its Covid policy, the new policy will be available on the district’s website. In addition, it was noted that all parents will be notified about all aspects of the new policy.
After much discussion about masking, testing, quarantines and other aspects of the Covid protocol, the school board voted unanimously to have masks optional at the high school and at Bluff View, but to have masks required at B.A. Kennedy. It was also noted that masks are required on all student travel per federal law, including school buses, vans, etc.
In other business, during closed session, the board discussed the possibility of having a school resource officer. No decision about a school resource officer has been made and the matter remains in the discussion stage.
In further business, the ballot order for the Spring Election on April 5 was set by having outgoing board member Lynn O’Kane draw names. The ballot order will be incumbent Board President Lonnie Achenbach, newcomer Jim Hackett and newcomer Lacie Anthony. There are three school board seats up for election, and there are three official candidates. Incumbent O’Kane and incumbent Cassie Hubanks have filed notification of non-candidacy.
