Oak Creek-Franklin Targets Sep. 28 Return For In-Person Schooling

OAK CREEK, WI — Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District officials are targeting a Sep. 28 return for in-person schooling in a hybrid format after the board unanimously voted to move to Phase II of the district's reopening plan on Tuesday night.

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

During the course of Tuesday night's meeting, board officials voted to retain only one of the district's two reentry criteria: keeping with the 14-day disease burden, while relegating the 14-day positive testing rate to a "persuasive" role.

According to data posted earlier 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.

"I wanted to use some type of science, some type of metrics, so I am happy we are still using that. I'm excited to get kids back to school safely," board member Jane Eickhoff said at the end of the nearly three-hour meeting.

Board member Darin Grabowski said, "we have to start somewhere with getting our kids back to school and I appreciate everything that everyone's doing."

Board officials speculated ahead of Tuesday's meeting that the district could reopen schools by the end of September.

"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."