New Berlin School Board To Discuss County Quarantine Changes

NEW BERLIN, WI—The School District of New Berlin will discuss adopting quarantine policies at the school board meeting on Monday night.

Waukesha County announced on Thursday it will immediately amend quarantine guidelines for K-12 schools.

However, the county will continue to commit to other COVID-19 mitigation efforts, including mask-wearing, according to Waukesha County officials.

New Berlin Superintendent Hoe Garza sent communication to staff and families on Friday.

The district continues to follow the guidance and recommendations of the Waukesha County Public Health Department as it relates to “staying safe to stay open.” The county continues to recommend that schools maintain their COVID-19 mitigation strategies, which for the SDNB include requiring masking indoors, sticking with social distancing, utilizing plexiglass partitions and more.

According to the letter, the district will continue these practices through the remainder of the school year. The following change the School Board will consider adopting at its meeting on Monday in order to align with the County’s guidance:

The SDNB will consider implementing a change the County announced, which was the relaxation of quarantine guidance to allow students possibly exposed to COVID-19 in school settings to continue in-person learning, if the following conditions are met:

• The school has committed to COVID-19 prevention policies, which include the following: mask wearing, implementing strategies to maximize distance between students, handwashing, ventilation and management of students exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
• Close contacts remain symptom-free and agree to self-monitor for symptoms a full 14 days following exposure; close contacts will immediately remove themselves from the school environment if symptoms develop.
• Close contacts strongly consider getting tested on day 6 or 7 after exposure to help identify asymptomatic spread.
• Some exceptions apply when it comes to athletics and WIAA requirements. Student-athletes will receive more information in the near future.

"The CDC has updated its guidance related to masking outdoors, and therefore, we are considering doing so as well. Administration is recommending for approval at the School Board meeting Monday that fully vaccinated individuals - meaning someone who is two full weeks after their second vaccine dose (or first and only dose, if receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) - no longer be required to wear masks outdoors unless they are in a crowded space," the letter said.