Winfield-Mount Union schools now requiring masks for all

WINFIELD - The Winfield-Mt. Union school board voted to require masks or double-cloth gaiters for all staff and students, pre-K through 12th grade, at its meeting on Wednesday evening. The new requirement goes into effect Monday.

The board initially approved a return-to-learn plan in August that required face coverings for teachers and highly recommended the use of masks for students.

Superintendent Jeff Maeder explained to the board state guidance would allow students to stay in school even if an exposure occurs if students were wearing masks or a double-cloth neck gaiter.

According to the district website, as of Tuesday, 26 elementary students were in quarantine and 36 high school students were in quarantine. Five or fewer students and teachers from both the elementary and high school buildings had tested positive for the coronavirus.

'We've seen more kids over time wearing masks at least part of the time, more so than the beginning of the year. I don't foresee a lot of issues with enforcement,” he said.

The policy would still make accommodations for students who have a medical issue and cannot wear masks.

During the board's discussion, board member Stacey Buffington asked whether the school would be able to provide disposable masks.

'That's one of my biggest issues that kids are going to be sitting with more bacteria with the masks,” she said.

Elementary Principal Gabe Wylder said the district does have some cloth masks on hand and would potentially be able to wash them on site.

Maeder added in communications with parents, the district would make sure to impress that keeping masks washed and clean would be important.

'If it's an issue, we would deal with it on an individual basis,” he said.

Maeder explained masks would be required 'across the board” in schools, with exceptions for lunch and outdoor activities during which students would be able to spread out and properly social distance.

Buffington asked what the expectation would be in reversing the mask requirement. Maeder said that though he does not have a concrete recommendation, it could depend on weather and when students would be able to comfortably spend more time outdoors again following the winter.

Board member Aaron Cummings said he didn't agree with requiring masks but would vote in favor so 'the healthy kids could stay in school.”

Cummings noted other districts with mask mandates still have students out in quarantine.

Board member Ashlei Venghaus, who works for the Mt. Pleasant Community School District, said most of the quarantined students are due to exposures that happened outside of the school.

Maeder, who serves as a joint superintendent for both Winfield-Mt. Union and Columbus Community School District in Columbus Junction, said the Columbus district, which has had a mask mandate from the beginning of school, was facing a similar rise in cases in the community, but quarantines were not as high.

Maeder assured the board it could re-evaluate the mandate at any time.

The new mask requirement passed with all members voting in favor of the policy.