SHAWANO, WI- A group of Shawano parents took a moment Monday to address the Shawano School board about the recent mask enforcement change that the district made.
Ever since students have returned to school face-to-face in January, mask-wearing has been enforced. Parents learned earlier this month, however, that according to what the school board approved, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturning the facemask mandate that the governor put in place, also ended any mandate in the school since they were following the state mandate guidelines.
Parents learned of information after one parent reached out to Superintendent Randi Anderson and then shared the information on social media on a Thursday evening. The email to parents from the district came out at the end of the day on Friday, which led to frustration.
Two parents took time on Monday to address the decision-making in that chain of events.
The group met at Memorial Park to speak to the board during public comment because, at this point, school board meetings are not available for the public to attend in person. Parents sat at a picnic table and waited to be let into the Zoom meeting by the district. The school board agenda has a link to the zoom meeting and the rules.
“You will be placed in the meeting waiting room, and admitted to the meeting when it is your turn to comment. Please state your name before speaking. When completed, you will be exited from the meeting.
TCHdailynews.com inquired if members of the public, including media, could attend and received the answer that all members of the public, including media, are asked to speak on Zoom and watch on the school youtube page.
It took a few minutes to get connected to parents at Franklin Park, but eventually, Sondra Guetschow was let in.
“There is very clearly a lack of leadership, and it is starting at the top,” Sondra Guetschow began her public comment with. In the last two years, there has been a number of people who are employed in the district, who have expressed disapproval of our superintendent. At first, I was just listening as they vented, but after so many have been having issues, I realized that there are true issues within.”
That was all she got in as she was cut off by School Board President Michael Sleeper.
“I read the policy and we are going to adhere to the policy, “Sleeper said. “This kind of personal and direct commentary and attack is out of order,” Sleeper told the board and asked to move on to the next person.
“Can I continue? Guetschow asked.” No, I guess I only have one minute.” Guetschow said she did not know that she was cut off because of her comment, but thought she was cut off for time restraints.
Sleeper then asked the next person Chelsea Gilling if she heard the rules of public comment, but she said she did not because she was just let in.
“Our policy specifically states that no direct criticism of any individual board member or employees of the district is allowed. The previous speaker was cutoff off because of comments in that direction,” Sleeper explained.
Gilling also addressed the communication barrier between school and parents.
“I understand as a board and as a district that you guys are between a rock and a hard place and it is clearly a lose, lose situation. At the very least, prior to the first communication going to a parent about our mask ending essentially ending with the Supreme Court ruling, I really, really, really, truly feel that communication needed to be sent to all staff members, notifying them of the situation at hand,” Gilling said. “There was no email or correspondence with parents until the following day. This really needed to be handled differently, and it truly raises concerns about transparency with parents in the district and the public.”
Guetschow read the rest of the statement that she was not allowed to read to TCHdailynews.com
“Since I was cut off, which right away, tells you a lot, I wanted to say that there was a lack of leadership when only one parent was notified about the change in masking policy.”
Guetschow said the board should have been notified first, then the staff, then parents.
She also wanted to address a personal issue that she has been dealing with. She told TCHDailynews.com that she was told by her daughter that some teachers in the high school refused to help her out of concern that she was not wearing a mask on the first day that it was optional.
“It’s optional, so I can send my kid without a mask, but teachers still need to teach them, even if it does make them uncomfortable, that is their job. That’s what I wanted to say, but never got the chance.”
TCHdailynews.com has reached out to the Shawano School District for clarification on the public’s attendance at meetings but has not heard back yet.
The TCHdailynews.com news team has attended school board meetings in person in 2021 in Clintonville, Bonduel, and Tigerton.
The parents commenting to the school board was broadcast on WTCH Facebook LIVE
https://fb.watch/5zIMjwuRwe/
This story will be updated when more information comes in so be sure to check back.
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