Tensions were high at the Sparta School Board meeting this week leading to outbursts from both sides of the mask debate. The school board’s decision on September 8 to reinstate a mask mandate in the district has led to much unrest among community members who do not support mandatory masking.
After being targeted by a recall effort organized by a parents group, Eric Solberg resigned from the school board on September 16.
Ultimately, the board voted 4-2 on Tuesday night to revisit board policy 904 regarding optional masking four weeks after a vaccine becomes available to children under the age of 12.
During the public input portion of Tuesday night’s meeting, one of the speakers, Kelly Anderson, caused quite the commotion after he sprayed members of the audience with water from a portable washer sprayer while trying to demonstrate that masks work.
Prior to the incident Anderson addressed board members saying, “The medical community knows that coronavirus’ mode of transportation is through respiratory droplets that find their way airborne through a cough or a sneeze, talking, or just sitting here breathing,'' he shouted.
“One respiratory droplet which could be airborne for several minutes could hold 45 individual coronaviruses,” Anderson added. “Many of these droplets could be caught by a facemask made from a bed sheet and I’m going to prove it.”
Anderson was ultimately escorted out of the meeting by Sparta Police officers. Several times during the meeting, board President Josh Lydon had to ask the audience to refrain from outbursts.
While there were individuals making snide remarks and shouting their opinions on both sides of the argument there were also several individuals who addressed the board with calm appeals.
Several speakers insisted that masks are safe and the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among children 12 and younger who cannot be vaccinated. Others insisted that masks are dangerous for the well-being of children as they are a breeding ground for germs and may lead to respiratory issues.
Sparta Mayor Kristen Gust said, “I’m not going to stand here and spout off COVID-19 facts and figures or quote any scholarly articles or medical journals because I’m not a doctor, but I am a business owner and a community leader who has a direct lifeline to the pulse of this community.”
“Please just listen to the people in this audience,” she added. “I feel that people should be able to take their own precautions based on their own comfort level and I believe you should allow families that same opportunity.”
Several others advocated for the mask mandate including Joyce Emery, a registered nurse. “Political expediency does not factor into patient health and safety policy making,” she said. “Since board members are not public health experts, it is incumbent upon you to follow recommended policy guidance on universal masking and quarantining set out by CDC, DPI and Wisconsin Department of Health to keep all students and staff safe.”
She urged the board to keep the mandate in place saying it is the right thing to do for the community.
Superintendent Dr. Amy Van Deuren presented the board with statistics comparing positive case rates from last year to this year as well as current COVID-19 numbers in the Sparta Area School District (SASD) versus the Tomah Area School District (TASD), where masking is currently optional.
According to Van Deuren, TASD’s case rate is lower and the ratio of quarantines to positive is lower for SASD.
“We’re finding that masking is helping us significantly when it comes to reducing the number of quarantines,” she said.
The board will revisit the policy regarding optional masking four weeks after a vaccine becomes available to children under the age of 12, giving parents an opportunity to have their children vaccinated.
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