Heights adjusts to expiring mask order from Public Health

With Public Health Madison and Dane County pledging to not issue any more public masking orders after its current one expires in a few days, the Wisconsin Heights School District was left looking for guidance on its mask policy going forward. District Administrator Jordan Sinz acknowledged the lack of future guidance, combined with internal recommendations to keep masking at the district level coming from Public Health, created a situation. Sinz and the District decided on a system that is similar to Sauk Prairie School District’s system, where weekly data points are used to set policy for the forthcoming week. On each Thursday the cases per hundred thousand is noted, then referenced against the CDC’s current thresholds. The district will then notify parents of the current caseload, and that will be in effect going forward. The following week the process repeats itself. In order to “smooth out” the potentially variable data from the Height’s small sample size, changes in masking policy will occur only after two consecutive weeks of increased or decreased case totals. For example, if the Wisconsin Heights community is at a “moderate” level, caseloads moving into “substantial” territory will not immediately trigger a change in masking policy. It will take two consecutive weeks of “high” caseload levels to trigger the change in masking policy. Sinz outlined the changes in a letter to families: “When Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) issued their most recent Face Covering Emergency Order, they alluded to the fact that the order may not be extended after it expires on November 27, 2021.  If the county does not extend the order, it leaves the district in a position to address masking through local procedures.  In this situation, our local procedure would take effect on November 27 if the PHMDC order is allowed to expire.” The letter continues: “In the absence of a PHMDC masking order, the district plans to handle future decisions on masking based on the level of community transmission of Covid-19 in the Wisconsin Heights School District census tract.  The Centers for Disease Control has outlined four thresholds to determine the level of community transmission - Low, Moderate, Substantial, and High.  We will base indoor masking decisions on these levels of community transmission as follows: Low transmission = masking optional Moderate transmission = masking recommended Substantial and High transmission = masking required.” Sinz’s letter continues: “The level of community transmission will be benchmarked each Thursday and shared with families/staff on Friday.  If the WHSD census tract levels have shifted for two consecutive weeks, we will share this update and inform everyone that our masking procedure will be adjusted for the following two weeks.  You can expect to receive your first data update on Friday, December 3. These masking protocols will apply indoors in our facilities for students, staff, and visitors.  They will also apply on school-sponsored transportation.” Changes will be coming to sports, explained here: “An exception to the district-initiated indoor masking requirement will apply to students who are actively competing (on the game floor) in indoor sports or actively performing in the fine arts.  Our activities director, Mr. Ben Voss, will share more information with students and families involved in these activities.” Subs needed Sinz noted that a lack of available substitute teachers was stretching the staff thin, as they were covering for each other when possible. He proposed—and the board approved—an increase to sub pay to attract more subs and better reward current staff. For current staff subbing for another staff member, pay will increase from $15 to $30 per hours. For external subs, pay will move to $57.50 per half day ($70 per half day when the sub works five full days), and $115 per full day ($140 per day when the sub works five full days).