DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The De Pere school district has asked a judge to deny a request to halt it from following its COVID-19 quarantine policy.
Stephanie McManus, a substitute teacher and parents of two students in the district, filed suit, seeking an end to policy. She has also asked for a temporary restraining order, stopping the district from enacting the policy, while the lawsuit plays out.
A Brown County judge will hear arguments on the restraining order Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the district has now formally responded to the suit.
“Plaintiff’s motion to enjoin the USDD from enforcing the Quarantine Policy is premised on a fundamental misunderstanding of the powers and duties of school districts under Wisconsin law. The Wisconsin Legislature has granted school districts with broad authority to take action to protect the health of students and staff as long as such action is ‘not prohibited by the laws of the federal government or of this state. Given the broad authority of school districts to enact measures to protect the health of students, and the lack of any state or federal law preventing schools from taking such action, the Quarantine Policy lawful,” the district’s brief states.
The district also cites multiple procedural arguments as to why the restraining order shouldn’t be granted.
Furthermore, the district notes it has recently updated its policy.
