Holmen parents want change to school district’s COVID policies

HOLMEN, Wis. (WKBT) – It’s been over a year since schools have had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools are trying their best to limit the number of cases and keep their kids safe.

But parents from one local school district want policies to change despite seeing an increase in cases.

During a school board meeting this week, parents in the Holmen School District showed up to share their thoughts on the district’s mask and quarantine policies.

One parent suggested, “Healthy kids go to school, sick kids stay home. This virus isn’t going anywhere. Let’s learn to live with it instead of reacting to it”

A letter sent Friday from the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services said people younger than 18 make up the majority of new COVID-19 cases in the state.

Part of this has to do with the new COVID-19 variants that have been circulating in the state, which also could be the reason for an uptick of cases in the Holmen School District.

With only a few weeks left until summer vacation Superintendent Kristin Mueller stressed that keeping as many students as possible in school is a top priority.

“Right now as much of us would like to say let’s not wear out masks anymore, in our school setting we have to keep doing that so we can keep our kids in school. We wanna get through this last stretch in May.”

The state health department’s letter also says that is essential for schools to continue their COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

That is something Mueller hasn’t even given a second thought.

“We’re getting so close. We’re getting so close to that point so we just need to stick with it with the strategies that we have inside and outside of school as best as we can to get to that point,” Mueller said.

“That is how far we’ve taken this.” one parent said. “Our own children are brainwashed with this cloth that we put over our mouth.”

Mueller said pandemic fatigue is affecting everyone, but a school district must remain as safe as possible.

The district plans to review all of the COVID-19 related policies during the summer, she said.

But until then, nothing is going to change.

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