Marinette School Classes Going In-Person March 1

At a long and intense monthly School Board meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 16, Marinette School Superintendent Corrie Lambie unveiled plans to bring students in grades 6 through 12 into school for in-person classes four days a week beginning Monday, March 1. Wednesdays will be left open as a time to provide extra help for students who remain on virtual learning, and others struggling with course work. Students in the lower grades have been attending in-person classes since the school year began in September.

Lambie's plans drew objections from several board members, with the strongest coming from Charles Rowell. Board member Terri Florek reminded the board that when they gave authority to Lambie months ago they had expressed confidence in him and the administrative team, and declared, "I stand behind that day when we said, "Mr. Lambie, we've got your back.'"

At the end of the discussion Board Member Brian Ceranski declared he was proud of everyone involved. "This is a disagreeable subject, and we have shown as a board that we can disagree without being disagreeable!"

The evening for board members had begun at 4:30 p.m. with a closed session meeting to consider employment, compensation and personnel, and then the 6 p.m. open portion of the meeting lasted until after 8:30 p.m.

Other agenda items included an update by Sommerville Architects on the referendum right sizing project, approval of several roofing projects, and a report on the Marine Way score card for student achievement.

Lambie had approached the return to more in-person classes with a statement that it was on the information-only item, and a reminder that the board months ago had given him and the administrative team authority to open and close school attendance as they found it necessary. At the end, he presented a 3-minute video depicting the grief and frustration of a student who had spent months of days at home alone, with only her laptop for company.

During his report Lambie talked of students who came in for help on Wednesdays just because they were lonely for adult company and support.

Teacher Julie Ann Erickson, speaking from the audience during time for public comment, objected to resuming the in-person classes on March 1, and urged waiting until the start of the final quarter in April instead. She said this would give time for all teachers to be vaccinated, get them past Spring break, and give teachers more time to prepare. She is also the mother of five students in the district. "As a parent and as an educator, I am concerned about students' ability to socially distance," she declared, and added that the hybrid situation will not allow six feet of social distancing in every classroom. She felt the current hybrid system, with two days in school and three at home is working, and expressed confidence they would be able to be back to regular 5-days a week classes for the next school year.

Lambie cited results of the poll, in which 71 percent of parents said they want their children back to in-person classes full time, and 29 percent did not. There had been responses from 695 families. He said many in the 29 percent were from homes where students were studying from home in any case.

Lambie also cited CDC reports finding little evidence that schools are spreaders, and said out of 2,000 students positive tests were mainly zero to two per week. Staff covid cases since Dec. 13 have also been very low.

He said having only the 2-day per week in person classes may actually increase transmission risks between students since it gives them more opportunities to interact with others. He also cited numerous reports of psychological damage to students from being kept out of school, including increased numbers of suicides and reports of drug abuse. He quoted from a Washington Post story on the seven harms of keeping kids out of school, and promised they will monitor things very closely and return to distance learning if necessary.

Lambie said according to new CDC reports even with three feet of social distancing, masks and frequent hand washings work. He described mitigation measures that will be followed in classes and during changes of classes, and said masks will be mandatory. Instructors will also be encouraged to allow students time outdoors occasionally to give them a break from the masks.

He also reported discussions with the heads of two local clinics in which he was told students should be able to safely come back, provided masks are mandatory, and said within the re-opened classrooms students will be kept in "cohorts" as much as possible.

He had also talked with other administrators in area school districts where they have had great success with in person five-day per week classes.

Board President John LaCourt said he would prefer to see the re-opening delayed until after spring break, and said he sees problems with students not keeping masks on when they change classes and asked if there would be more disinfectant cleaning. He was told they cannot clean hallways during the day, but teachers disinfect between classes and the maintenance staff has a machine that can disinfect some areas, for example the auditoriums, in perhaps a minute.

Lambie said students are eager to get back to classes and see all their friends with business as usual will be disappointed, "because that's not happening." The social distancing will eliminate much collaborative work and close contacts. Daily monitoring of student illnesses will continue.

Rowell objected that the plans were relayed to staff before the board was informed, and also was upset because actual plans did not appear to be finalized. "I want kids to go back to school...I just want to understand the Plan," he declared.

Ceranski said parents who talked to him wanted their children back in school, and declared that nationwide suicides have doubled and tripled since schools were closed.

Recent stories, opinions and photos

Issue Date	Department	Headline
04-14-2021	Front Page	Peshtigo City Finances Get Good Audit Report
04-14-2021	Front Page	Recount April 15 For Middle Inlet Board
04-14-2021	Front Page	Officers Detonate Live Blasting Caps
04-14-2021	Front Page	DNR Extends Deadline For TOP PFAS Water Sampling
04-14-2021	Front Page	Marinette City Council Okays Four Capital Outlay Projects
04-14-2021	Community - Coleman	Vegetable Garden Plans at Coleman
04-14-2021	Community - Coleman	Coleman Legion Flags For Sale, Meet May 4
04-14-2021	Community - Coleman	STEF Donation
04-14-2021	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Garden Needs Help
04-14-2021	Community - Crivitz	Country Gospel Jam April 16th
04-14-2021	Community - Crivitz	St. Mary, Crivitz Rummage Sale
04-14-2021	Community - Crivitz	Near North Municipal Court Sets $75 As Monthly Membership Fee
04-14-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Concert at Cornerstone Assembly
04-14-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Board To Set Graduation Plans
04-14-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Poppy Poster Contest Winners
04-14-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Middle/High School Lists Third Quarter Honor Rolls
04-14-2021	Sports	Bulldogs, Blue Devils Picked for Packerland All-Conference
04-14-2021	Sports	Panthers Whiting Tops Area NEC All-Conference Selections
04-14-2021	Sports	Wisconsin State Park System Spring Operations Updates
04-14-2021	Sports	2021 Youth Turkey Hunt April 17-18
04-14-2021	Sports	Barbarians Hold Spring Organizational Meeting
04-14-2021	Perspectives	From My Window
04-14-2021	Perspectives	Country Cousin
04-14-2021	Perspectives	From Our Readers...
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Gary S. Bugalski
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Daniel L. Hanson
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Helen J. Herson
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Harriet L. Kuchenbecker
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Beverly A. Lynd
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Stella Norton
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Elsie M. Neuens
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Irene E. Pell
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Dale A. Przewrocki
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Cletus V. Rouse
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Ronald J. Rynesh
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Irene I. Schlichting
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Geraldine Stodola
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Joan A. Stoeger
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Mari Julane Wickman
04-07-2021	Front Page	Tim Geltz Is Hero Who Saved Drowning Man
04-07-2021	Front Page	Republican Elijah Behnke Wins The 89th District Assembly Seat
04-07-2021	Front Page	Numerous New Faces On Local Governing Boards
04-07-2021	Front Page	Referendums Fail In Peshtigo, Pass For Lena School District
04-07-2021	Front Page	Criminal Interdiction Operation by Oconto Co. Sheriff Department
04-07-2021	Community - Coleman	Coleman Board To View Audit May 12th
04-07-2021	Community - Coleman	Coleman W&S Utility To View Phosphorus Issue
04-07-2021	Community - Coleman	Reunion for Classes 1943-65
04-07-2021	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Legion Auxiliary Minutes for March Meet
04-07-2021	Community - Crivitz	LNRB Meets On April 14th
04-07-2021	Community - Crivitz	Country Gospel Jam April 16th
04-07-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Blood Drive is Monday, April 12th
04-07-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Blood Drive is Monday, April 12th
04-07-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Legion to Meet April 20th
04-07-2021	Sports	DangleFest 3 on 3 Tourney Delights Local Hockey Fans
04-07-2021	Sports	WIAA Conference Realignment Task Force Conducts Review of Plans
04-07-2021	Sports	Evers Signs Emergency Order Relating To Elevated Fire Risk
04-07-2021	Sports	PHS Alumni Scholarship Golf Outing July 16th
04-07-2021	Sports	Wisconsin Spring Turkey Season Opens April 21st
04-07-2021	Perspectives	From My Window
04-07-2021	Perspectives	From Our Readers...
04-07-2021	Perspectives	Country Cousin
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Kathleen A. Allen
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Arlene E. Berggren
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Bernadine Borkovec
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Dwayne Brendemihl
04-07-2021	Obituaries	William D. Butterfield Jr.
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Marvin L. Davidson, Sr.
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Stephen L. Duenweg
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Deborah L. Gamelin
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Robert J. Johnson
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Harold E. Larsen
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Michael J. Madden
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Robert Nordquist
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Robert J. Picard
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Susan Presti
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Linda L. Schultz
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Richard C. Steinhaus, Sr.
04-07-2021	Obituaries	William J. Swanson
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Robert T. Wickham
03-31-2021	Front Page
03-31-2021	Front Page	Brick Tiles Still Available For Fish Viewing Platform
03-31-2021	Front Page	Oginski Honored For Life Saving Actions
03-31-2021	Front Page	Sentinel Structures Stops Production on March 31
03-31-2021	Front Page	City, Town, Village Electors Go To the Polls On April 6th
03-31-2021	Front Page	Dog Park Plan Change Gets Committee Okay
03-31-2021	Front Page	Mudbrook Road Site Rejected For Placement Of Sex Offender
03-31-2021	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Hires New Officer, Makes 4th of July Plans
03-31-2021	Community - Coleman	Lena Staff Held Spaghetti Supper
03-31-2021	Community - Coleman	Lena Pathfinders Hold Food Drive
03-31-2021	Community - Coleman	Coleman School Cancels Reunion for Classes 1943-65
03-31-2021	Community - Coleman	Coleman Library To Meet April 12
03-31-2021	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Business Association Names Persons of the Year
03-31-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Blood Drive is Monday, April 12th
03-31-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Legion Post 66 to Elect Officers Apr. 3
03-31-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Easter Egg Hunt Set for April 3
03-31-2021	Sports	Area Basketball
03-31-2021	Sports	Tony Strublic Wins Tom Lund Match Game Championship
03-31-2021	Sports	DNR Adopts DHS Recommended Hazard Index Of Certain PFAS
03-31-2021	Sports	40,000 Acres Of Private Land Will Open To Turkey Hunters
03-31-2021	Sports	Reminder: Wildfire Season Underway
03-31-2021	Perspectives	From My Window
03-31-2021	Perspectives	Country Cousin
03-31-2021	Perspectives	From Our Readers
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Juliana Bolosan
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Marie L. Belongia
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Donald J. Barstow
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Clark G. Casperson
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Warren R. Gamelin
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Richard G. Hass
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Louise E. Hohol
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Robert B. Radzinski
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Wallace J. Reed Jr.
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Arnold A. Spaude
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Mary L. Thibodeau
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Mary A. Woodky
03-24-2021	Front Page
03-24-2021	Front Page	Set New Motions Hearing In McClintock Murder Case
03-24-2021	Front Page	City of Peshtigo To Begin Selling Sesquicentennial Coins, Tickets
03-24-2021	Front Page	County Board To Consider Sex Offenders House
03-24-2021	Front Page	Malke Working With USDA/FDA On PFAS Remediation Grants
03-24-2021	Front Page	Peshtigo May Get Additional $330,000 In Federal Funds
03-24-2021	Community - Coleman	Coleman School Cancels Reunion for Classes 1943-65
03-24-2021	Community - Coleman	Egg Hunt at Equity Mar. 28
03-24-2021	Community - Coleman	Lena Pathfinders To Hold Rummage Sale April 9 & 11
03-24-2021	Community - Coleman	Lena School To Hold Summer School, Prom
03-24-2021	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Woman's Club Hosts "Girls Night Out"
03-24-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Lakeside Bar, Grill Has New Owners
03-24-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Silver Cliff Blood Drive Nets 31 Pints
03-24-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Victoria Mueller Seeks Wausaukee Supervisor 2
03-24-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Lions Flower Sale Underway
03-24-2021	Sports	Area Basketball - Menominee Boys Bag Double Win Week; Maroon Girls Undefeated
03-24-2021	Sports	Fire Danger Expected to Remain High in Wisconsin
03-24-2021	Sports	2021 Deer Season Planning Meetings March 22-April 1
03-24-2021	Sports	PHS Alumni Scholarship Golf Outing July 16th
03-24-2021	Sports	WIAA Alternative Fall Season Culminating Events Planned
03-24-2021	Perspectives	From Our Readers
03-24-2021	Perspectives	From My Window
03-24-2021	Perspectives	Country Cousin
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Manfred Blum
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Carleton P. DeWitt
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Richard J. Gehling
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Jeffrey J. Johnson
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Elaine J. Kulinski
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Glenn C. Lauzer, Jr.
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Edwina Lepianka
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Judith R. Malek
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Irene Martin
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Willard H. Paul
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Terry L. Richardson
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Martin G. Senn