Cloquet mask debate lingers as cases climb

The mask requirement for students was discussed at length during the working meeting of the Cloquet School Board Monday, Dec. 13.

Superintendent Michael Cary presented data from the Minnesota Department of Health and Carlton County Public Health comparing the number of people that have been vaccinated versus the number that had not been vaccinated in the different age categories.

The data was not available for children 5-11 years old, but data for older children showed that 22 percent had started the vaccination process, and that 17 percent were fully vaccinated for ages 12-15, plus 16- and 17-year-old students.

“From what I can see from the data, the risk is quite low for those that are vaccinated,” said Cary. “The risk goes up for those that are not vaccinated.”

The number of students contracting Covid is consistent with the number of cases in the community.

“We started out the school year with cases in the high 20s,” said Cary. “Now the case rate is in the hundreds. We are seeing more cases right now, but that is consistent with the number of cases in the community.”

The school administration keeps a Covid dashboard where the number of new cases is listed each day.

Cloquet school nurse Sarah Ellena is concerned about the mask issue. “I am concerned about dropping the mask mandate,” she said. “We are hearing positive things about the latest new variant, but it’s not for sure. I feel that the number of cases will go up after the holiday break. Maybe it will come down, maybe not.”

Ellena recommended that the school district hang onto the current mask mandate, which requires all students and staff to mask during the school day, but makes masks optional for after-school extracurricular activities, including sports.

A survey sent by the teacher unit to Cloquet school district staff showed that 40 percent of staff were supportive of an optional masking option and 60 percent preferred to stay with the current mask mandate for all grade levels and staff.

“It is a muddled picture,” Cary said. “It is a muddled issue.”

One parent supported the students wearing masks while several gave reasons why masks are preventing young students from learning proper language skills, such as pronunciation.

“Work with them,” said one parent. “Work with them so they are not held back for life.”

Another parent spoke about possible psychological issues, such as anxiety, depression, fear, social anxiety, and physiological responses that result in fight-or-flight behaviors.

“The risk of kids contracting the coronavirus is extremely low,” the parent added. “We’re told that if masks work, then why are so many kids getting sick?”

During the regular school board meeting, a motion was made to set the mask policy to “optional” on Jan. 31. The motion was seconded but failed in a 3-3 vote.

Cary said that the administrative team wants to remain flexible in case there is a spike in the number of cases.

A second motion to table the decision and bring it back for discussion at the Jan. 10 board meeting passed unanimously.

Cary said that he and Ellena will come back with recommendations after consulting with Carlton County Public Health.

In other matters Monday:

• Cary reported that the number of paraprofessionals that assist students has dropped. There are only four to six in the building each day. “The number of paras should be double that,” he said.

He recommended more paraprofessionals be hired and float to wherever they are needed. The cost was estimated at $40,000.

The board passed a motion to approve the proposal by a 5-1 vote, with Ken Scarbrough voting no.

• The school district is planning to submit a letter to Safe Routes to School to lay out a plan and request an application for funding for a project on Doddridge Avenue.

Carey said the project would consist of installing curb bump-outs on Doddridge at the intersections of Sahlman and Wilson Avenues. The bump-outs would create safer crosswalks, he said.

A bump-out is also needed at 18th Street but will be delayed due to plans to rebuild Doddridge in the next 10 years, he added.

The city and county will be asked for letters of support for the project, to be enclosed with the letter requesting an application for 100-percent funding.

The next board meeting will be held Jan. 10.

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School levy to drop slightly

During Monday’s Cloquet School District Truth in Taxation hearing, business manager Candace Nelis informed the board that there will be a 2-percent drop, or $140,000, in the district’s tax levy for 2023. That is a result of a drop of $753,893 in debt service.

Nelis went on to explain that if people see an increase in their property taxes, it could be from an increase in taxes by other government entities. Increases in individual property valuations could also be a factor.

There were no comments from the public in attendance.

The board approved certifying the 2 percent decrease in the levy, bringing the total levy to $6.99 million, which amounts to 15 percent of the district’s budget of $39.45 million.

— Lois E. Johnson / Pine Knot News

Editor's note: The paragraph on the staff survey was corrected online on Dec. 20.