Madison Metropolitan School District will continue its coronavirus protocols into the spring semester, according to a release from the district’s Superintendent Carlton Jenkins.
The measures, which require students and faculty to continue to wear a mask at all times, have remained in place since the beginning of the school year.
Despite the availability of the coronavirus vaccine for school-aged children, the protocols will remain unchanged:
Masks will continue to be required inside school buildings and on buses. After the Dane County masking order #4 expires at the end of November, we will continue to review this guidance with our local health care experts. At this time, we don’t expect a change in this safety measure for MMSD during the second quarter.
Masks will continue to be required outdoors for 4K-8th grade students, and elementary and middle school staff, families, and visitors. As 5-11 year old students are now eligible to be vaccinated, we will continue to have discussions with our local health experts about when we should stop outdoor masking.
No change to school start/dismissal times. Unfortunately, these times will most likely last through the 3rd quarter and possibly all school year. We continue to seek 17 bus drivers to fill available positions.
No changes to physical distancing, or universal health practices such as frequent handwashing, covering coughs, staying home when sick.
Continue with cleaning protocols and scheduled cleanings of buildings.
Furthermore, the district has mandated faculty to take the vaccine, resulting in an overwhelming number of them being vaccinated.
It is unclear when the district plans to stop the restrictions.
However, as The Star News Network previously reported, an extensive review of a broad range of studies about the efficacy of face coverings limiting the spread of COVID-19 has raised questions about the effect of masks on the transmission of the coronavirus.
Positive case numbers among school-aged children have dropped in the state, and the age group constitutes 0% of all COVID-related deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Mask mandates have remained a source of tension throughout the state over the course of the pandemic. Early on, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate was struck down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Madison Schools” by Madison Schools – MMSD.
