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Medford school board votes to make masks optional when Taylor County 7‑day average stays under 15
Summary
On April 26, 2021, the Medford Area Public School District Board voted 6–3 to make masks optional districtwide for the remainder of the school year and through summer school when Taylor County’s 7‑day average of COVID‑19 cases stays below 15; WIAA rules and bus masking remain in effect.
The Medford Area Public School District Board of Education voted on April 26 to make face coverings optional districtwide so long as Taylor County’s seven‑day average of COVID‑19 cases remains below 15, a threshold the district said will be checked on Tuesdays. The motion, made by President Dave Fleegel and seconded by Cheryl Wibben, passed 6–3 by roll call. A procedural motion to end discussion passed earlier by a 7–2 vote.
The change applies to all staff, students and visitors for the remainder of the current school year and through summer school, the board said. The board recorded that Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) rules will still be followed and that bus riders must continue to wear masks on buses.
The vote followed a public‑comment period in which a number of community members addressed the board specifically about mask requirements. The transcript lists speakers who commented — including Jessica Peterson, Mara Denzine, Quintin Denzine, Stacy Olson, Ethan Mottle, Sara Hamm, Mckenzie Smith, Nakitta Muehlbauer, Darla Scholls, Ann Mahner, Christopher Hughes and Jerry Kohn — but the minutes do not include verbatim statements, so the board meeting record does not show the exact positions each speaker took.
Board members recorded their votes by name. The roll call on the final motion to make masks optional was recorded as Yes: Steve Deml, Aemus Balsis, Dave Fleegel, John Zuleger, Don Everhard and Cheryl Wibben; No: Brian Hallgren, Paul Dixon and Jodi Nuernberger. The motion that led to ending discussion was recorded Yes: Dixon, Everhard, Deml, Balsis, Fleegel, Wibben, Zuleger; No: Nuernberger, Hallgren.
The board did not record additional mitigation triggers beyond the 7‑day average threshold. The district administrator was present; the transcript does not record any staff‑level operational guidance beyond the items above.
The meeting then continued to other business and later adjourned to closed session under state statute for a personnel matter.
