We’re halfway through the second school year during the pandemic, and relying upon where you live, regions in our area have adopted different strategies.

A few, similar to Wausau, decided to adopt masks optional. Wisconsin Rapids, then again, changed to require masks following an outbreak recently.

“What we’re doing hasn’t appeared to make intensifying issues here in the district,” said Superintendent Craig Broeren of Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools.

Broeren said the area had 578 absolute cases as of December 17. Last year, they had 468 cases the whole school year.

“Obviously, they’re never going to be zero, however, to keep them as low as possible, and making an honest effort not to let one positive become ten positives,” he said. Broeren said making hasn’t come without its difficulties.

“Do we need to remind understudies to pull their masks up? Well, sure, however, we work with kids, but that is not stunning to me,” he said.

The Wausau School District presently has 57 COVID-19 cases across all schools and region structures, with 135 understudies isolated. Numbers that Superintendent Keith Hilts says are higher than where they were a year ago.

All things being equal, Hilts said these numbers regularly mean teachers are working overtime, between becoming ill, children caught up to speed, and aiding individual employees.

“They’re taking care of it well, yet it’s causing a great deal of strain,” he said. Until further notice, Hilts says the emphasis is on understudies.