GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — UPDATE: "It's so important to keep our kids in school," said GBAPS board member Nancy Welch. "That is the main thing, and whatever we can do to keep them there, lets do it. Let’s work together as a community to keep our kids in school.”
On top of the decision to pass a new mask mandate, the board also added an amendment, allowing them to reconvene if and when COVID-19 cases start to go down. Specifically, when cases drop to 100 per 100,000 people.
“The people I spoke with today were not in full trust of the CDC," said Laura Laitinen-Warren, another school board member. "One common ground I was able to come with, with a gentleman I spoke with was to at least give something that people can look forward to within the motion.”
One parent was happy to hear the vote tonight was unanimous.
“We saw the benefit of them going back in person and giving them the opportunity to make them safe," said GBAPS parent Daniel Hatton. "And requiring the masks, regardless of vaccination status, and having that be the safest option they can do, we are fully supportive of it.”
However, there were parents on the other side of the debate. The meeting was not open for public comment today, but some parents got to give their input earlier last week at another meeting. One woman, Jann Larson, begged the board to "unmask" their kids.
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UPDATE: GBAPS board unanimously passes a new mask mandate to require masks in school and on district premises. It will be optional outdoors whether or not someone is vaccinated.
The vote was 7-0.
BREAKING: GBAPS board unanimously passes new mask mandate 7-0 to require masks in school/district premises and optional outdoors whether or not vaccinated @NBC26
— Caroline Hogan WGBA (@CarolineHoganTV) August 18, 2021
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The Green Bay Area Public School District will hold a meeting Wednesday to discuss COVID-19-related mask requirements in schools.
The meeting, which starts at 5:00 p.m., will be held via Zoom and the meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube.
Back in late July, the Board of Education voted to make masks optional for all students in 7th grade and above, as well as staff members who work in those classrooms.
