August 4, 2021

Dear Superintendent Pfeiffer, President Brian Epley and Board Members,

We, the undersigned, 113 healthcare providers from across the greater Neenah area, appreciate the
incredible dedication you continue to demonstrate to our community. Throughout the pandemic you
have time and again made difficult choices informed by the best evidence available. We understand
that at your most recent meeting, the board deemed masking optional within the Neenah Joint School
District, and we are writing today to urge you to reconsider this decision. The American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends that all persons in schools, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks. The
Centers for Disease Control is also recommending that all individuals, even those who are fully
vaccinated, should mask indoors in areas of high transmission or poor ventilation, including within
schools.

Locally we are seeing an increase in COVID-19 infection rates, likely attributable to B.1.617.2 (Delta
variant). We are seeing breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals. Only 49% of individuals in
Winnebago County are vaccinated (60% of those eligible [age 12+] are vaccinated). It is critical to
note as well that vaccines are not yet available for children ages 0 to 11. An average of 17 cases per
day were reported in Winnebago County, a 183 percent increase from the average two weeks ago.
As you can see in the figure below, new cases per day in the county are increasing, which suggests
that the situation will become exponentially worse before it gets better.

We urge you to reconsider reinstating the mask policy throughout the district, as inconvenient as it
may be for many people. We understand that students often cannot and do not wear the masks
properly all day long, but masks are the only defense that unvaccinated children have against
coronavirus. While it is true that COVID-19 causes mild infection in many children, that is not always
true. We have seen severe infection and even death in pediatric patients with COVID-19. There is
also an equity issue at stake as we seek to protect children and staff with immune deficiencies,
diabetes, and other health problems that put them at higher risk. Some students live in
multi-generational homes where elders will be at greater risk. Further, there are racial and ethnic
disparities to consider, as Hispanic or Latino and non-Hispanic black children have had higher
cumulative rates of COVID-19-associated hospitalizations than non-Hispanic white children.1

Low vaccination rates have allowed new variants to evolve, which puts all of us, even vaccinated
individuals, at risk.2 Finally, masks proved to be effective last year at significantly reducing influenza
(flu) transmission.3 Reducing flu cases means that we save lives and we protect our overburdened
healthcare system.4 The health system could become overwhelmed with patients and forced to ration
care if the highly contagious Delta variant behaves as expected. A universal masking policy, grounded
in scientific evidence, at this point in time can protect our treasured children, educators, and the
greater community.

1
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932e3.htm
2
https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/hhs/page/cdc-update-covid-19-pandemic-and-delta-variant
3
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/a-sharp-drop-in-flu-cases-during-covid-19-pandemic/
4
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6937a6.htm
Sincerely,

Kamal Kant Singh Abbi, M.D., Medical Oncologist

Satish Achanti, M.D.
Juan Albino, M.D., Pain Medicine
Richa Aggarwal, M.D.
Merici Awe, M.D., Family Medicine
Chitra Bhosekar, M.D., Nephrology
Kenneth Branstetter, M.D.
Sandia Brekke M.D., Ascension OB/GYN
David Casillas Plazola, M.D., Family Medicine Resident
Atul Dogra, M.D.
Martha Grace Courtright, M.D., Family Medicine
Megan Everson, M.D., Family Medicine
Shannon Duvernell, D.O., Pediatrics
Julianne Falleroni, D.O., MPH
Breana Fellinger, D.O., Family Medicine
Jennifer Frank, M.D., FAAFP Family Medicine
Yazmin Fuentes, M.D., Psychiatry
Tara Frerks, M.D., Family Medicine and Sports Medicine
Alejandro Garcia, M.D., Family Medicine & Sports Medicine
Brittany Goodrich-Braun, M.D., Medical Director Partnership Community Health Center, Family
Medicine
Kirsta Hoffman, M.D., Family Medicine
Samantha Huzzar-Tembei, D.O., Hospitalist
Cornelius Whitney Hyzer, M.D., Family Medicine
Kathryn Jacobe, M.D., IBCLC, FAAFP, Family Physician and Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Pankaj Jain, M.D., Pediatrics
Joshua Jarvis, M.D., Diagnostic Radiology
Eileen Jekot, M.D., Pediatric Hospitalist
Jessica Johnston Rickert, M.D., Family Practice
Ravneet Kaleka, M.D., Internal Medicine
Lesley Kieffer, D.O., Family Medicine
Bonnie Korytkowski, D.O., Family Medicine
Allen Last M.D., M.P.H.
Kari Lathrop Capaul, M.D.
Petra Laeven-Sessions, M.D., FAAP, Pediatric hospitalist, Children's of Wisconsin
Chee Nou Lee, M.D., Family Medicine
Daniel P Leonard, D.O., Pulmonology and Critical Care
​Kristin Lyerly, M.D., M.P.H.
Stephen J. Marquis, M.D.
Sara Marcoe, M.D., Family Medicine
Kelly Mathes, D.O., Family Medicine
Todd McKenzie, M.D., Pediatric Hospitalist
Beth Menzel, M.D., Family Medicine
Jennifer Milosavljevic, M.D., Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Meha Minhas, M.D., Internist
Christopher Mjaanes, M.D., Allergy and Immunology
Jaclyn Mullins, M.D., Family Medicine
Christine Newton, M.D., Family Medicine
Mary E. Nordstrom, M.D., Pediatrics
Sanjeevkumar Patel, M.D., Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine
Annika Ridlehoover, M.D., FAAP, Pediatrics
Eric Rojo, M.D., Family Medicine
Angela Sargeant, D.O., Family Medicine
Sutira Scheef, D.O., Internal Medicine/Hospitalist
Thomas Schelble, M.D., Family Medicine
Jamie Schmidt, M.D., Family Medicine
Wendy Schroeder D.O., Family Medicine
Michal F. Slovick, M.D., Family Medicine
Ronald W. Slovick, M.D., M.S., Urologic Surgery
Jyot Soni, M.D., Hospitalist
John Steinlage, M.D., Family Medicine
Paul Stevens, M.D., Family Medicine
Gregory Swanson MD, PhD Otolaryngology
Jennifer Szmanda, D.O., Pediatrics
Angelo Taleon, M.D., Internal Medicine
Kay Theyerl, M.D., Internal Medicine
Michael Van Abel, D.O., Family Medicine
Laura Verhagen, D.O., Family Medicine
Gretchen Wagner, M.D., Family Medicine
Michael Werner M.D., Family Medicine
Nicholas William A Tseffos, D.D.S., Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Gehrig Williamson, M.D., Family Medicine
Michelle Williamson, M.D., Family Medicine
Anthony Zeimet, D.O., Infectious Diseases
Lulseged Zenebe, M.D., Internal Medicine
Casandra ZumMallen, M.D., Pediatrics

Jacqueline Anderson, LPC Mental Health Professional

Courtney Beaudette, APNP, Nephrology
Heather Books, MPAS, PA-C, Family Practice
Kaitlyn Colombo, Registered Nurse, Surgical Services
Paula Dinse, R.N.
Brianna Dostalek, PA-C, Family Practice
Julie Emrick RN, BSN
Jaci Fink, PA-C, Internal Medicine
Meghan Gremban, R.N., IBCLC
Cindy Gresl, R.N., Lactation Counselor
Niky Gutman A.A.N.P., D.N.P., Urgent Care
Erin Heathman, APNP, Internal Medicine
Katie Heidke, MSN, RN, OCN Oncology
Angela Heinkel, PA-C, Internal Medicine
Beatriz Jarvis, M.A.
Ellen Koski, M.P.H., C.P.H., Public Health Educator
Christine Lauer, R.M.A.
Sarah Lee R.M.A., Thedacare Family Practice
Lira Martinez, PA-C, Otolaryngology
Amber McDonald, R.M.A., Family Practice
Jena McNiel, M.P.H., B.S.N., R.N. Public Health Nurse
Jess Moyle B.S.N., R.N., IBCLC Public Health Nurse
Meghan Pauly, Public Health Nurse, City of Menasha Health Department
Kevin Pittenger, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Mathew Przybylo, CNMT, Nuclear Medicine
Sara Rabideau, R.N.
Megon Rose, L.P.N. Public Health
Monserrat Salcido Paz, R.N., Thedacare Pediatrics
Michele Schelble, R.N., B.S.N. City of Appeton Health
Kristina Schmitt, PA-C, Family Medicine
Jennifer Schutt, BSN, RN, CLC, Children's Wisconsin NICU & Pediatrics
Mollie Verhagen, D.O., Family Medicine
Jamie Ver Voort, Registered Nurse Medical Services
Debra Waters, R.N., IBCLC, Lactation Consultant
Aleana Wentzel, Registered Nurse pediatric home care
Brooke Zelhofer, APNP, Pediatrics
Stefanie Zuleger, APNP

Figure 1: New Reported Cases by Day (August 2, 2021)

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/winnebago-wisconsin-covid-cases.html