Appleton Schools will go to optional masking in January 2022
Mandatory masking will continue in the Appleton Area School District until mid-January. The district’s board of education approved a recommendation that requires masking for staff, students and visitors in school buildings through January 18, 2022. Masking would then become optional, except for early childhood/4-year-old kindergarten students and all students using school or public transportation. Board member Deborah Truyman supports the optional masking resolution for addressing multiple objectives.
“Having a time frame of January 18th may give people a little more incentive to get their vaccinations versus waiting, ” Truyman said. “I think why should our children bear this burden of feeling they have to protect the city.”
Board member Edward Ruffolo, however, voiced concerns about setting a strict timeline should coronavirus cases rise.
“I’m just concerned that when we get closer to that date,” Ruffulo said. “If the (COVID-19) rate if it is critically high, that it’s going to get hard to feel comfortable doing it (going to optional masking) at that moment (January 18, 2022).”
Appleton School Board members approved the measure 5-to-2. It also stipulates a return to mandatory masking if COVID case numbers rise by two-percent.
