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Trying to do the right thing – Our view: We hope GSL is right

Last Monday, Aug. 9, Glencoe-Silver Lake High School Superintendent Chris Sonju, with the blessing of the school board, announced GSL students would return to class next month with all students who wish to benefit from in-person learning doing so.
Whether or not they wear masks to help protect themselves from COVID-19 and its highly contagious delta variant is their option.
The previous week, Sonju announced his plan for optional mask requirements since the state is not mandating, only encouraging, wearing masks. With an election year on the horizon, only a draconian outbreak will necessitate a public health emergency and mask mandate from Gov. Walz.
And even then, many will say he’s wrong. In this environment, many turn to their politicians for medical advice. Do they ask their MDs for candidate endorsements?
There is no doubt students need to be back en masse this fall. The hybrid and distance learning delivery systems last year is said to have had a dire impact on students’ mental health and social well-being.
We hope the absence of a mask mandate will not interfere with extended in-person learning. Sonju stressed the importance of students being respectful of efforts to keep them and the school’s staff healthy so they can stay together and enjoy the benefits of in-person learning longer. Social distancing is not normal. Students will return to school after months mask-free.
We hope the public health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Minnesota Department of Health and county public health are, as they should be, being overly cautious.
There is also no doubt distance learning, hybrid learning, quarantines and mask wearing impede good education. So does having COVID.
Later in the Aug. 9 meeting, Sonju was rightfully lauded for his leadership guiding the school district through a pandemic.
However, bringing hundreds of unmasked students, many unvaccinated, together into close quarters when public health experts warn against it, is concerning.
Without the benefit of public discussion, Sonju decided to return students to school in person with optional masking. His decision, with the board’s support, spared us the acrimony the Hutchinson School Board endured that same night. Before an overflow crowd, it voted 3-2 to OK a preparedness plan, like GSL’s, including optional mask wearing. GSL’s plan is on the district’s website.
Much of this fretting would go away with teenagers and younger students being immunized once a vaccine is OK’d and ready. We hope GSL students and staff enjoy a successful, healthy school year.
Take care.

- jm