Tomah schools will start year with masks optional

Posted Thursday, August 19, 2021 11:34 am

The goal is to stay in school”

Superintendent Dr. Mike Hanson

By BOB KLIEBENSTEIN, Staff Writer

Students and staff in the Tomah School District will have the option of wearing facing masks to start the school year.

The decision was made by the Tomah School Board Monday night. Mask optional is included in district's re-entry plan for the 2021-22 school year regarding Covid.

But Superintendent Dr. Mike Hanson was clear in his message the district will remain fluid regarding possible changes based on the track of Covid in the district through the school year.

"The goal is to stay in school," Hanson said.

There were a handful of parents who spoke during public comment regarding whether to make face masks mandatory or optional. The opinion was mixed, favoring both. But while masks will be optional in buildings, due to federal guidelines, masks will be required for students and drivers in school buses and vans. That is a message district administration want to instill with families before classes start.

Other guidelines to start the school year are similar to those to finish the past year. For instance:

Classes will be five days per week in all buildings.

There will be no early dismissal.

Virtual instruction is available per parent choice.

Students will attend music, art, gym and other special classes.

The district COVID 19 Health Advisory Committee will continue to meet weekly knowing that pending any increase virus trajectory, guidelines could change quickly. Hanson said the district will continue close contact with local and county health agencies. A similar partnership will continue with state and federal agencies who track Covid numbers.

Administration will have the right to adjust classroom practices if needed during the school year and restrict visitor and building use. Instruction could be adjusted by a building to building need for a period no longer than 10 days based on a Covid spike.

More detailed information can be found on the district web site.

Elementary principal JoLyn Schmidt provided a brief overview of the district's summer school program. Due to Covid the program was run different than in the past. Students were restricted to one building for both sessions. The first session focused on reading and math. The second session focus was science and social studies.

The overall purpose this summer was to offer students with individual core academic instruction to close gaps of skills lost during the pandemic.

District activities director Brad Plueger verified all fall varsity sports have started their regular season. All school club activities are set to start with the new school year. Tomah middle school sports will start with the first day of classes, Plueger added.

The school board approved a final version of a survey for the proposed building project for the district. The survey will be available to take on line or by a mailed copy. The survey was drafted by School Perceptions. The goal is to have families take the survey by Oct. 8.

The board also approved a motion to start the process of searching possible sites for a new building, whatever direction is pursued.

THS principal Robert Joyce and TMS principal Mike Chapes outlined a few changes for the upcoming school year for their respective buildings.

Joyce said there will be more block schedule days (longer class periods) built into the THS calendar. Joyce said that is one lesson learned from last year to minimize student interaction in the building. A similar transition at TMS involves days with nine school periods, Chapes added. At the middle school students will have access to their lockers and less restriction for movement within hallways.

The board approved a virtual learning agreement for parents/guardians requesting virtual instruction for school year.

Per the agreement all students registering as a virtual student must also have a parent/guardian or authorized home mentor to support the virtual learning experience.

Resignations from Teaching Positions:

Jeff Brieske, 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher at TMS

Stacy Frei, Special Education ID Teacher at TMS

Autumn Hayes, School Counselor at TMS

Stacy Howden, 5th Grade Teacher at Miller Elementary

Angela Weigel, Alternative Education Teacher at TMS

Ryan Weigel, School Psychologist Bee Yang, ESS Teacher at TMS

Approval of Contracts for Teaching Positions:

Andrew Bloom, 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher at TMS

Tina Gnewikow, Special Education LD/Cross-Categorical Teacher at THS

Tara Opelt, 4K Special Education Teacher at LaGrange Elementary Approval of Contracts for Athletic/Co-Curricular/Instructional Leadership Positions:

Kyle Guepfer, THS ELA Curriculum Leader Cassidee Crain, ELA Curriculum Leader – Gr. 1