Milwaukee Public Schools announced on Tuesday that students will be forced to comply with another mask mandate, after the school district lifted the policy for one day.
According to the school district, cases among students and staff increased, influencing leaders to reimplement the restriction.
“Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) has announced that masks will be mandatory for students and staff in all district buildings. The policy will take effect Wednesday, April 20, 2022. The decision was made after determining a significant transmission of the virus within the city of Milwaukee,” the district website reads.
“The mask policy is in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. The district has the option to revert back to a mask-optional policy if it is determined that there is not a significant risk of virus transmission within the city of Milwaukee and/or the school district. Masks will continue to be available for students and staff in all district buildings.”
Earlier this year, Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and Milwaukee Public Schools returned to remote learning for an extended period, despite numerous studies that have demonstrated the harmful impact of remote learning on students.
The district’s decisions throughout the coronavirus pandemic have received intense criticism. In fact, the system was the target of a bill to dissolve the large division into multiple, smaller ones.
However, Governor Tony Evers vetoed the measure.
“As Americans across the country rejoice in the return to normal, kids in the Milwaukee Public School District are forced to wear masks for 7-plus hours a day,” said Republican Governors Association Spokeswoman Maddie Anderson. “Governor Evers sits idly by mask-free knowing he can’t say anything because he is 100 percent beholden to the teachers’ unions who bankroll his campaign.”
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Wisconsin Daily Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
