AUGUST 26, 2021
Franklin District Newsletter | Summer Update #5
Board Meeting Recap & Masking Changes
We are communicating with you the outcome of the Board of Education meeting that took place last night (Wednesday) and updates to how we plan to start school safely for all students. The administration and the medical advisory team presented the 2021-22 Instructional Learning Plan to the Board of Education which included the following:
COVID-19 school data from the previous year
Current COVID-19 data (audio recording of Ms. Courtney Day, Director of Health & Human Services for the Franklin Health Department)
Recommendations from the CDC, WI DHS, Milwaukee County, AAP, DPI, Franklin Health Department, and Children’s Wisconsin.
A video testimony from Dr. Ken Strzelecki, Pediatrician, Children’s Hospital, a member of our Medical Advisory Team
FPS Parent/Guardian Masking Survey Results
District COVID-19 protocols other than masks
A recommendation for when masks would be required and recommended
Following the presentation, the Board heard community comments and discussed the plan. The Board then voted and approved the following plan for student masking in our schools:
QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS BASED ON CURRENT MASKING REQUIREMENTS
- Grade 4K-6th students will be required to quarantine if they are within 3 feet of an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 for longer than 15 minutes or had direct contact with the individual.
- Grade 7-12 students will be required to quarantine if they are within 6 feet** of an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 for longer than 15 minutes or had direct contact with the individual.
**In the event universal masking is required in a school, this quarantine protocol will change to 3 feet
- Quarantine is not required for students that are fully vaccinated.
VIRTUAL OPTIONS
For families originally signed up for virtual when we opened the window this summer, we will communicate directly with you regarding your continuation with virtual learning.
If you did not enroll in our virtual program with Edmentum when the window was open and wish to enroll your 5K-6th grade child in virtual due to masks being required, contact FPS Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Jessica Moe, at jessica.moe@franklin.k12.wi.us via email no later than 11:59pm on Sunday, August 29, 2021. Include your child’s name, grade, your name, and a contact phone number. Please be aware that if you enroll in virtual at this time, you are making a semester commitment through Friday, January 14th, 2022. More information will be shared closer to the winter break about options for the second half of the school year.
Unfortunately, additional virtual seats are not available for students grades 7-12.
The Instructional Learning Plan slides and all of our communications for families will continue to be parked on our Communications Hub of our website if you need to refer to them. If you have questions related to the start of the school year, please continue to submit those using our Start of the Year Question form here so that this is directed to the best person to respond to your inquiry.
We are confident we will open school safely and have a successful year following these protocols. We’re very excited to welcome the students back to school next week.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
As a reminder, the District Calendar and all building calendars can be found here.
All of our calendars are able to be subscribed to! Follow the steps at the top of the District Calendar for how to subscribe. You will also see our 2021-22 Calendar Events in your own calendar app on your device!
REMINDER: STAGGERED START DAYS
As shared in our last district newsletter (click here to read if you missed it), we shared some information with families about how the first few days of school will be structured as "Staggered Start Days." We hope this provides opportunities, especially for our younger students, to work with teachers on these days to better understand school and classroom norms, technology expectations, safety protocols, lunch procedures, recess routines, bus arrival/departure processes, and more. You can click the image below to see more details about how these days will be structured.
PLANNING FOR FALL SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
All FPS athletics programs follow WIAA COVID-19 requirements for vaccinated/unvaccinated student-athletes. Therefore, all unvaccinated students that are close contacts will not be allowed to participate in athletics or activities for the duration of the quarantine. If a student has been vaccinated, they will be given the choice (but will not be required) to quarantine after a confirmed exposure unless they develop symptoms of illness. Please take this into account as your family explores the options for vaccination and discuss any questions you have with your child’s healthcare provider.
VACCINE INFORMATION
If your family is choosing to explore options for vaccination, please refer to the details below for how the vaccination timeline works. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) encourages anyone age 12 and older to get their COVID-19 vaccination now, so they will be protected against COVID-19 early in the 2021-22 school year.
For children ages 12 and up, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine currently available for this age group. The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses, spaced 21 days apart.
Anyone ages 18 and up is eligible for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which also requires two doses, spaced 28 days apart. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is also authorized for those ages 18 years and up, but only requires one dose.
Franklin Public Schools
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Email: communications@franklin.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.franklin.k12.wi.us
Location: 8255 West Forest Hill Avenue, Franklin, WI, USA
Phone: 414-529-8220
Facebook: facebook.com/franklinpublicschools
Twitter: @fpsdistrictwi