Masks Now Required Indoors At Franklin High School

FRANKLIN, WI — Students at Franklin High School are now required to wear masks in school following an increase in COVID-19 cases to above 1.5 percent, the district announced.

The mask requirement is slated to be in effect until Oct. 29. Masks will not be required outdoors at any time, but all students will have to wear a mask indoors during the school day and during any indoor after-school activities. The rule applies regardless of a student's vaccination status.

The district said it will continue to monitor the 14-day positivity rate over the next week. If it drops below 1.5 percent, the masks will no longer be required. If rates stay above 1.5 percent, masks will continue to be required.

"Required masking is the next step in our efforts to not exceed a 3% 14-day positivity rate at Franklin High School. As a reminder, if we exceed that 3% rate, we would pivot to at-home instruction as we did last year in an attempt to prevent the further spread of infection. We would very much like to avoid this," Principal Michael Vuolo wrote in the announcement sent to families Wednesday.

The district is expected to update its coronavirus dashboard Friday. The dashboard can be viewed here.