Return to In-Person Learning

Throughout this historic time, we have been thankful for the resilience, adaptability and cooperation of our students, families, and staff.

Please review our COVID-19 Mitigation Practices below.

COVID-19 Information Sheet: A helpful 1-pager summary of quarantine, mitigation practices, and COVID-19 testing information can be found here: COVID-19 Info Sheet for 2021-2022.

Percent Positive and Percent of Students and Staff in Quarantine

Health Metric Dashboard

Our Board of Education has approved a revised plan through which we gradually return students to school in the spring of 2021 based on internal health metrics while we continue to monitor external metrics for surges.

In the fall of 2021 our plan is to return to in person learning for all students except those that have enrolled in our own Project-based Learning Virtual Charter School.

Local health metrics will again be tracked and monitored but now for the purpose of when mask requirements may change from “Universally Required” to “Highly Recommended for Unvaccinated Individuals”.

Please note that we will continue to monitor the external (e.g., community health) metrics and if we see the COVID-19 Burden Rate surge back into the highest category, we will pause this plan until indicators improve.

Health Metrics can be viewed here.

Face Masks

Reporting Positive or Probable Cases of COVID-19

Report all positive or probably COVID-19 cases to the District Nurses via the email address COVIDWAWMNurses@wawmsd.org. Include your name, position, school/building, telephone number and a brief summary (optional information: if you have been fully vaccinated):

I have symptoms.

I think I might have COVID-19.

I’ve tested positive for COVID-19.

Someone in my household tested positive.

If an athletic program participant is impacted by COVID, the Athletic Director emails covidschool@westalliswi.gov with:

Participant’s name
School
Email
Telephone Number
Report/Symptoms

COVID-19 Testing

Our District wants to inform its students and families that it is currently offering free diagnostic COVID-19 testing with parental consent if there is a known exposure or if a student is experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Additionally, our District may conduct broader outbreak COVID-19 testing if it believes that exposures and close contacts may be significant. Finally, our District may conduct screening testing prior to extracurricular events, including homecoming and prom. These testing opportunities will be communicated on an individual basis. The diagnostic testing will be performed by our school nurses, with analysis completed by NOAH Clinical Laboratory located in West Allis. These COVID-19 testing opportunities will not be conducted as a condition to enrollment. Our District will provide parental notice and obtain informed, written consent ahead of any COVID testing.

Quarantine Requirements Updated

The document linked below is a graphic that depicts the updated quarantine requirements if a student is exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. The good news is that individuals who were wearing a mask during exposure and were at least four feet away from the positive person, no longer need to be quarantined. They will be instructed to monitor for symptoms but under these circumstances, students can stay in school and parents no longer need to arrange for students to be at home for an extended number of days. You can find more information HERE

Cleaning and Disinfecting

We have worked hard to prepare for the return of our students. We have installed social-distancing stickers, hygiene reminders, plexiglass barriers, and special health rooms. Our schools and classrooms have been supplied with a variety of cleaning supplies, masks, and face shields. Our Facilities will be deep cleaned each Wednesday and on weekends. Deep cleaning will also be done if there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in a building or office. We are following Center of Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for our cleaning processes.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

Cleaning is the process of removing unwanted substances, such as dirt, infectious agents, and other impurities, from an object or environment. Cleaning with soap and water removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces and it lowers the risk of spreading infection.

Disinfecting is the process of cleaning something, especially with a chemical, in order to destroy bacteria. Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces. Killing germs on a surface after cleaning, can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

To clean and disinfect schools and offices, our building custodial staff will be performing these tasks each day:

Remove any visible soil from the surface with a detergent-based cleaner before applying a disinfectant.
Disinfect surfaces from high areas to low areas so that any dirt/dust that may contain microorganisms dislodged from above are removed when you clean the lower surfaces.
Disinfect surfaces from “clean” areas, such as classrooms, to “dirty” areas, such as restrooms, to minimize cross-contamination.
When disinfecting, we will ensure surfaces remain visibly wet for the contact time specified on the product label.
Disinfect all frequently touched surfaces daily including desks, cubbies, cafeteria tables, restroom stalls/stall doors, door handles, pencil sharpeners, and sink fixtures.
Disinfecting after our routine cleaning is complete, including emptying trash, dusting, and vacuuming to minimize cross-contamination.
Cleaning and disinfecting schedules will allow time for the disinfecting products to dry and any fumes to dissipate before students are allowed in the classroom.
Disinfectants will be stored out of reach of children, and should not be used while children are present.

Products Used

Clean Lyfe Hand Sanitizer Gel - Lemon Scented

Hand Sanitizing Wipes

Nassco Hand Sanitizing Gel

Sanidry Surface Disinfecting Wipes

Hand Washing

Learning Plan

We have some updates about access to instruction when students are required to quarantine. At the elementary level, families will receive access to all the digital platforms, a packet of materials, and directions for the length of the quarantine from the teacher. In addition, the teacher will make a connection to the student through a video, email, phone conference at least once every three days to ensure the student is still connected to the instruction and the classroom. Families and students can reach out to the teacher at any time to schedule a virtual conference as well to ensure learners have what they need during a quarantine period. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child’s teacher or the school principal. Please note, your child’s iPad will not be going home with them during a quarantine. If you need access to a device for the quarantine period, please contact the building principal.

At the intermediate level, families will receive access to all the digital platforms, a detailed plan with the daily instructions for the length of the quarantine from the teacher, materials pick-up scheduled as needed, and access to videos that explain any new learning. In addition, the teacher will make a connection to the student through a recorded video, email, or phone conference at least once every three days to ensure the student is still connected to the instruction and the classroom. Families and students can reach out to the teacher at any time to schedule a virtual conference as well to ensure learners have what they need during a quarantine period. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child’s teacher or the school principal. If you need access to a device for the quarantine period, please contact the building principal.

At the high school level, students will receive a detailed plan with the daily instructions for the length of the quarantine from the teacher, the opportunity to pick up materials as needed, and access to any new learning. This may be an open zoom specifically from the teacher during a new lecture, videos uploaded to Schoology of the lecture or a resource to explain the new concept, or an optional check-in time with the teachers before or after school for specific support. In addition, the teacher will make a connection to the student through a video, email, phone conference at least once every three days to ensure the student is still connected to the instruction and the classroom. Families and students can reach out to the teacher at any time to schedule a virtual conference as well to ensure learners have what they need during a quarantine period. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child’s teacher or the school principal. If you need access to a device for the quarantine period, please contact the building principal.

Transportation

First Student Bus Transportation Information

Bus Expectations

Face Masks are required for all students riding the bus.
Students should be at the bus stop 10 minutes before morning pick-up.
At the end of the day, students will be dropped off within ten minutes of the time listed.

Contact Numbers:

For bus ride problems or concerns (e.g., late pick up/drop off), please contact First Student Bus Transportation at (414) 649-2620.
For questions regarding the bus assignment, please contact the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District at (414) 604-3043 or (414) 604-3014.

Bus Transportation Precautions

Physical distancing is extremely difficult to maintain on a school bus. Therefore, we are asking families to consider alternative options for pick-up and drop-off of their students, such as family drop-off or carpooling should that be possible. Administrators and our West Allis and West Milwaukee Police Departments will determine if new traffic patterns are needed around schools to accommodate for the increased parent and foot traffic to and from schools. This includes (potential) new loading and unloading locations and/or procedures for buses and cars.

School Bus Health and Safety

Working with our transportation company First Student, we are finalizing what health and safety measures we can put in place to reduce risk for our school community. These safety measures will be in place on school buses:

Buses will be cleaned and disinfected twice daily to promote safety for all students and First Student staff.
Students are to maintain distance from others at bus stops.
Students will be required to wear a face covering while on the school bus, due to the inability to maintain distance. In the event a student cannot wear a face covering because it is not developmentally and/or medically feasible (medical documentation required), the students will be assigned to sit in the front rows of the school bus.
Eating, drinking (unless medically required) and chewing gum will be prohibited on the bus.
Hand sanitizer will be available for riders to use as they enter and/or exit the bus.
Signs will be posted in each bus that illustrate the COVID-19 related Rider Expectations and Safety Precautions (e.g., How to Stop the Spread, Covering Your Cough, etc.).
Students will be routed with bus capacity no greater than two students per seat.
Students are asked to sit with household family members while riding the bus.
Students' bus routes will be limited to only assigned and routine routes.
Drop-off and pick-up processes may be modified to allow for physical distancing and limit congregating at each school location.
Ventilation systems will operate while students are on the bus and windows will remain open as weather allows, in order to increase circulation of outdoor air.