Oak Creek-Franklin On Track To Reopen Under Hybrid Model

OAK CREEK, WI — Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Superintendent Daniel Unertl said the district is on track for a hybrid return to in-person schooling on the week of Sep. 28.

The district made the decision to start the year in a fully-virtual format, with all students learning remotely.

On Sep. 8, the Oak Creek-Franklin School Board voted to target a Sep. 28 date to advance to Phase II in the district's COVID-19 safety plan.

During the course of the Sep. 8 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.

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

In corresponding with Oak Creek Patch, Unertl said: "We continue to update our Dashboard on the website each Friday and will track progress as long as the pandemic continues. Given the Board’s discussion— and given that our community trends remain within acceptable ranges —entering Phase II the week of Sept. 28 - Oct. 1, could reasonably be anticipated."

In corresponding with Patch, Unertl said there are three main points to consider as children go back to school later in September:

Quarantines A Possibility

"We’ve seen other schools throughout the region and country open and shortly thereafter find themselves with a number of staff and students in quarantine. While COVID-19 continues to circulate, we must expect and plan for quarantines, and perhaps even closures, to continue."

A Different Return To School

"We are going to focus on welcoming students, teaching new routines and practices, and helping our kids feel comfortable in a setting they haven't been in for months—it's a brand-new first day of school of sorts."

Safe Welcome Awaits

"I think everyone wants to welcome our kids back, and do everything we can to open and stay open. I know our teachers want to see their students again, and they will work as hard as they can to face any challenge awaiting us."