Oak Creek-Franklin Speculates On Return To In-Person Schooling

FRANKLIN, WI — Students in the Oak Creek-Franklin joint school district returned to school in a virtual setting following the Labor Day weekend, and district officials are meeting Tuesday night to determine whether to go back to school in-person.

As officials look at COVID-19 trends, they took note of downward trends in the area.

"Our community, experiencing significant downward progress, has nearly dropped to pre-July 4 numbers — the “Moderately High” COVID-19 Disease Burden Range," district officials noted in their agenda for Tuesday night's meeting. "Given current trends, entering Phase II the week of Sep. 21 or 28, could be reasonably anticipated."

In Phase II students would attend school in person school part-time and would engage in remote learning.

Metrics Update

According to data posted Tuesday on the district's Phased Reopening Dashboard, Oak Creek's 14-day disease burden recorded 161.8 positive test results per 100,000 residents. On Aug. 28, the 14-day disease burden stood at 151. In order to advance to Phase II, the disease burden would need to drop to 75-99 positive tests per 100,000 residents.

Additionally, dashboard data showed that Oak Creek's 14-day positive test percentage stood at 6.5 percent Tuesday. On Aug. 28, the 14-day positive case rate stood at 7 percent. In order to advance to Phase II, that percentage would need to drop to below 5 percent.

In order for the district to advance to Phase II, which calls for a hybrid in-person and virtual model, both the 14-day disease burden and 14-day positive test percentage thresholds have to be met.

Virtual Schooling Decision

The Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District board voted to go back to school fully virtual, citing elevated COVID-19 statistics that showed a surge in cases in July, and a tapered-off number of cases into August that were well above spring case numbers.

District officials said they're reviewing reopening criteria based on a COVID-19 scorecard that's updated weekly. The soonest face-to-face instruction could begin at Oak Creek-Franklin schools is Oct. 1.

The district opened in Phase I, which is a virtual model. In order for the district to advance to Phase II, a hybrid model, a number of virus thresholds have to be met.