SMH…. way to be on top of it… schools are opening NOW. It is August 28th. And NOW the health department decides to offer some guidance? School Boards should remember that they serve the voters in their districts and take this guidance for what it is… one more unelected official’s opinion.
WEST BEND — The Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department recently published guidance for a COVID-19 decision-making framework for schools. The department also added data for burden by zip code and schools.
The decision-making framework will provide guidance to school districts and school boards for understanding COVID-19 risk. It will also “help districts determine when to implement virtual, hybrid (blended learning), or inperson instruction for the 2020-21 academic year,” according to the framework.
Final determinations will be made by school boards and district administration.
The framework data is based on the burden of COVID-19 cases, which is the number of COVID-19
cases in a 14-day period computed as a rate per 100,000 people, allowing for comparison between communities.
Risk level is placed into one of five categories: low, moderate, moderately high, high and critical.
Less than 10 cases per day per 100,000 people would constitute an area as low burden. An area with at least 350 new cases per day would fall into the critical category.
The Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department recommends that areas with a low burden host inperson classes five days a week.
Areas in the moderate or moderately high category are recommended to use a hybrid or in-person model with physical distancing.
I don’t have an issue with the advice.
I do find the “timing” somewhat tardy.