Things start to open up for Marshfield schools; District to offer girls wrestling
For the Hub City Times
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield School District is dropping its face mask requirement. Superintendent Dr. Ryan Christianson told the board of education on June 9 that as of June 7, the district has shifted to a “mask recommended, but optional” approach.
Christianson also said district officials remain hopeful that the mask policy will be an optional arrangement this fall, but that it would be a while before a final decision is made.
And further signs that things are starting to open up: the school board signed off on two student trips–one to Florida in March and another to London and Paris next July. Christianson said both trips had been postponed earlier because of COVID-19. He also said the music department trip to Disney World in March will use the week of spring break for the vast majority of their absence.
“They have, apparently, in years past done it at the end of the school year,” he said. “There are circumstances this time around that have brought them to the desire to do it earlier in the year. They feel it is a better time in working with seniors, as opposed to them being graduated and done, and now they are going on a trip a week after graduation in June, is one part of it.
“The other part of it is, as we are still coming off the impact of COVID-19, the performance schedules and the protocols that are happing on the Disney campus dictate a little bit what the schedule is that they can follow.”
He added that the trip schedule would have students missing three school days.
Also last night, the board signed off on the district’s WIAA membership renewal, but Christianson said it comes with one big change at the High School level – a state-level competition will be offered for girls wrestling.
Christianson said that “the renewal on the high school level is an intent to offer girls wrestling as its own separate sport next year.”
The renewal includes sports at the middle school level as well.
And board members also said “yes” to hiring Bray Architects, based in Milwaukee, to conduct a comprehensive study of the district’s buildings and facilities.