Packed House, Passionate Opinions Over Masks at Wayzata School Board Meeting
Superintendent Chace Anderson told the Wayzata School Board and a packed school board meeting that this school year will be the year of mitigation strategies.
“We are at the front end of another challenging school year that will require us to work well together and do our best thinking.” said Anderson. “Just because we start the school year in one place doesn’t mean we end the school year in the same place.”
He also outlined two goals. The first is ensuring the health and well-being of students and staff. The second is keeping kids in school every day throughout the school year.
Parents and concerned community members agree with those goals, but how to reach them is likely to be a divisive issue.
At Monday night’s school board meeting, individuals spoke for about two hours. They were passionate and divided on whether or not masks are a good idea in schools this next year.
Some students spoke, like one senior who emphasized how important it was to be in school so he could complete classes and college applications.
“Because of how masks keep others from getting sick, I would feel unsafe in a high school of 4,000 people if some of the people were unmasked,” he said.
Several people were medical professionals who shared thoughts on masks.
Others pointed out the political nature of mask policies.
“I am not here demanding a one-size fits all answer. I am asking for the basic human right to choose what’s best for our children,” said one person who was against a mask policy.
The superintendent says the school board will determine a date for a special school board meeting the week of Aug. 16 or no later than Aug. 23.
Wayzata High School
