WILSON — After nearly an hour-long discussion, including pleas from both sides from patrons, teachers and healthcare professionals, the Central Plains USD 112 board of education, by consensus, left the current face mask requirement in place for the district’s schools.

During Monday night’s monthly board meeting at Wilson School, Brad Schiermeier, board president, said in addition to keeping the mask requirement in place, administrators and teachers need to find as much time as possible to give students breaks during the school day from wearing masks.

At a previous meeting, the board approved a policy requiring everyone wear face masks unless they could socially distance.

Board member Tony Zink advocated leaving the mandate in place.

“At least for now, whatever we can do to keep kids in school we probably should do,” Zink said. “We should review this from time to time.” Angie Daniels, who has two children attending Central

Angie Daniels, who has two children attending Central Plains schools, asked the board to amend its policy.

“I’m here today because I, along with many other parents, don’t agree with our children being forced to wear masks for the duration of the school day,” she said.

Daniels asked the board to amend the current policy to encourage wearing of masks, but not require them.

“Let the parents weigh the benefits and the risks,” she said.

Dr. Ronald Whitmer, Ellsworth County health officer, urged the board to keep the face mask requirement in place.

“The one that is wearing the mask is the one protecting other people,” he said. “I think that is very important and I think masks are still required.”

“We’ve got to do the right thing,” said Pam Stiles, school nurse at Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood and Central Plains Junior-Senior High School in Claflin. “It’s not forever. It’s a small sacrifice that keeps everybody safe.”

Superintendent Greg Clark said he was concerned about liability issues.

John Sherman, board attorney, said there would be liability issues. He noted that wherever there is a potential for harm there is liability. He defined negligence as failing to do an act that a prudent person would do.

Sherman said the board needs to look at a risk-reward analysis.

“What is the reward of not wearing a mask,” he asked. “I don’t see the reward justifying the risk.”

In other business:

• Jane Oeser, CPES principal, updated the board on the modified quarantine in place at the school after a student in a second grade classroom tested positive for COVID-19. She said all 16 students in the class, which she declined to identify, and the teacher have been quarantined. They can only come to school and go back home. She said 12 are attending school in person and four are attending class remotely from home. Oeser said steps have been taken so those students do not mix with other students. Temperatures taken in the morning and at noon, and no other adults are allowed in the classroom except for the teacher. They eat lunch in their classroom. The classroom is cleaned with Clorox everyday. “They will not be mixing at all,” Oeser said.

“They will not be mixing at all,” Oeser said.

Kerianne Ehrlich, supervisor of the Ellsworth County Health Department, said the Rice County Health Department is handling the case and the decision on how long the students will remain in modified quarantine is up to them. She did say it will be 14 days from last Friday (Oct. 22).

• Discussion on whether to move the bleachers from the building in Bushton to CPJSHS or purchase new bleachers for CPJSHS was tabled until the November board meeting.

The next regular meeting of the USD 112 school board is 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at Central Plains Junior-Senior High School in Claflin.