GREEN BAY – Community leaders urged the public to come together to ensure the health and safety of students, teachers, staff and families in the school districts throughout Brown County.

That was the message at a news conference Wednesday, Aug. 5, as area school district superintendents and school leaders were joined by healthcare, business and community leaders in calling for community support as the new school year approaches.

“We are asking for community collaboration, support, understanding and flexibility as we embark on a school year that will be different than any other before,” said Damian LaCroix, Howard-Suamico superintendent.

The school district leaders emphasize the importance for everyone to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local guidelines and mandates when it comes to reopening schools during the pandemic.

That includes:

• Wearing a face covering.

• Socially distancing when around others.

• Washing hands frequently.

• Keeping children home when they don’t feel well.

• Talking to children about these important items.

“If we all join together in doing these things, it will put us on the path to eventually being able to fully reopen,” said Green Bay superintendent Steve Murley. “We know it won’t be quick or easy, but it’s necessary.”

GRACE President Kim Desotell said, “As we join together in unity with a safety-first approach to fall learning, we will be stronger together as a region. Our efforts as a team of leaders and educators extend much further beyond the walls of our schools and classrooms.”

LaCroix, Murley and Desotell were joined at the news conference by Prevea President/CEO Ashok Rai, Bellin Health President/CEO Chris Woleske, Camera Corner Connecting Point CEO Rick Chernick, Green Bay Packers President Mark Murphy and Brown County Executive Troy Steckenbach.

“If they haven’t done so already, I’m urging Brown County businesses to start thinking about how they’re going to help their workforce through all of this,” Chernick said. “It’s going to take flexibility on the part of businesses to help employees who have children in school.”

The school superintendents in Brown County have been talking weekly for several months, along with healthcare, business and community leaders, to discuss what getting back to education should look like this fall.

“Like the medical facilities and other businesses, we know the importance of our schools and education,” Murphy said. “It is vital that we keep the educational system up and running – whatever that might look like this fall.”