By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Plans are in motion for the Whitewater Unified School Board to resume limited in-person meetings after a robust discussion on the merits and drawbacks of doing so amid COVID-19.
WUSD officials have been solely meeting virtually since this spring, when lockdowns were imposed as the novel coronavirus began spreading, but a contingent of the community has been asking district officials to consider an in-person option.
While the City of Whitewater has followed a similar virtual-only course of action for all of its Common Council and committee-level meetings, most municipalities and school districts throughout Southeastern Wisconsin have resumed some form of in-person proceedings in recent months as restrictions have lightened.
While a number of logistics — including where meetings will be held — still need to be fleshed out, a majority of the School Board on Sept. 28 voted in favor of the in-person option with such standard protocols as social distancing in place. The plan passed on a 5-2 vote.
Board member Kelly Davis said she believed there was a way to approach the in-person format in a balanced, measured manner through a hybrid model that would still give elected officials and residents an opportunity to be a part of meeting proceedings in real time virtually.
“Maybe there’s a way we can make a win-win out of this,” Davis said. “I would like us to have an in-person component.”
The district has undergone a number of internal changes since the mid-March lockdowns — most notably, the installation of new superintendent Caroline Pate-Hefty, who began her tenure in July.
“As a board, we have not met with our district administrator,” board member Jim Stewart said as he expressed one reason why he supports going back to in-person meetings.
Board member Thayer Coburn, who rejoined the elected body in April, also spoke in favor of in-person meetings. Coburn pointed out he has not had an opportunity to meet with his elected colleagues since the spring election.
“I think in the name of transparency, and setting a good example of practicing what we’re preaching, I think we need to get together as well,” Coburn said. “I’d like to meet with all of you in person.”
Board member Steve Ryan adamantly opposed in-person meetings and said he would continue to be a part of proceedings virtually for the foreseeable future.
“I don’t see what the purpose is,” Ryan said. “I’m not going to go into the guilt mode, as a lot of people want us to, and I’m not going to go into a discussion about my family’s health situation.”
Ryan added, “We’re in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, and we’re asking people to come out. I just don’t see the point of it.”
Board President Casey Judd, who, like Ryan, cast a dissenting vote, said he was not sure if he would attend meetings in person.
“I’m still following the community metrics,” Judd said.
Pate-Hefty and other district staffers have been tasked with determining where meetings could be held. The current boardroom is one option, though concerns of its small configuration were raised.
