Masks In Schools: Shorewood District Announces Protocol Changes

SHOREWOOD, WI — The Shorewood School District is updating its masking guidelines to become optional, but recommended, depending on case levels in the school, according to a news release from the district.

The first phase of the decision will take effect on Monday. It comes after recent updates to CDC guidelines and after a review of the schools' COVID-19 metrics, according to the news release.

Masks will become optional, but recommended, for all adults and students in 5K-12 and in all district programs, depending on case levels in each school.

Masks will still be required for all kids in 4K and all children aged 2-5 participating in programs at district facilities, according to the news release. Quarantine and isolation guidelines will remain the same.

The new protocol for masks hinges on case rates within the district. If a school's total positivity rate remains below 3 percent, masks will be optional but recommended, the news release said.

Should a school's positivity rate jump above 3 percent, masks will be required for all students and adults within that building for the two weeks that follow.

The second phase of the policy changes is projected to go into effect on March 14, while the third phase is expected to come on March 28, the news release shows.

The second and third phases would bring more discretion to schools on operating procedures when it comes to mitigating COVID, such as whether off-campus field trips and in-school assemblies are allowed, or how schools may run lunch and activities like band and orchestra, the news release shows.

The District will continue to report positive cases in schools on Tuesdays and Fridays, the news release said.

The additional phases depend on maintaining COVID-19 positivity below a rate of 3 percent, and layered mitigation measures such as hygiene and ventilation will continue to be a priority, the news release said. Protocol in the additional phases may be modified in the future.

"Before this change takes effect on Monday," the news release said, "please discuss your personal preferences and the needs of your family with your student, as well as the importance of respecting each individual’s choice. Bullying or harassment regarding mask wearing will not be tolerated, and will be addressed through District policy and our Student Code of Conduct."

Throughout the new phases of mask policy and COVID-19 mitigation, the district plans on continuing current policies of quarantining, isolation and contact tracing.

More information on the new protocol is available at the Shorewood School District's website.