Parent Raises Money For Masks In Waukesha Schools

WAUKESHA, WI—A Waukesha parent is raising money through GoFundMe to provide masks for families. As of Thursday, $175 has been raised.

Christy Barry said she and other parents don’t believe the Waukesha School District will return to requiring masks in school.

Berry said there are low-income families in the school district who may not be able to afford masks on their own.

“We are starting with trying to raise money for 1,000 masks and see where we go from there,” she told Patch.

The plan is to hand out masks to elementary schools because children under 12 can’t be vaccinated yet, according to Barry.

“When I was a kid, if my parents had to buy masks with new school clothes, that would’ve been one more thing to worry about,” she said.

Barry said she and a few others want to put together a letter communicating information to other parents, including a version in Spanish.

“Board of Education meetings may not be as accessible to other parents, and we want to inform them about what is happening and what the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] is recommending,” she said.

The top public health agency in the country issued new guidance in July for mask wearing. Regardless of vaccination status, people were now recommended to wear masks in all K-12 schools and in areas of high caseloads.

The CDC announced the new decision as the delta variant continued to spread across the U.S. and after the Waukesha School District announced a new mask policy for the upcoming school year. James Sebert, the district's assistant superintendent, told Patch previously the district doesn't anticipate changing course.

A district memo from early July said the district will follow an optional policy for masks.

• Students will not be required to pre-screen in the mornings.
• The district will not limit classes moving from one room to another.
• Elementary students will have specials (art, music, physical education) in their designated classrooms.
• Visitors and volunteers will again be allowed in schools.

The optional mask policy means the school community can wear masks if they choose.

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