New Mask Policy Approved For Whitefish Bay School District

WHITEFISH BAY, WI — The Whitefish Bay School District Board of Education approved new guidelines for optional versus required masking in schools at its meeting on Wednesday.

The existing policy of universal masks has been retired, the latest update to in-person The new policy would make masks optional, but recommended, depending on school and community case percentages and burden. Masks will still be required for 4K.

The new policy is expected to go into effect on Monday, according to a report by CBS 58.

If COVID-19 case levels in a school or the community jump above a certain threshold, masks will again become required for all, the new plan says, although the plan is subject to change down the road.

• If the North Shore community case burden rate rises above 350, masks will be universally required in all schools.
• If a school's positive case percentage rate rises to at least 3 percent, masks would be required for that school.

The case rates will be looked at on Fridays, and if they are above those thresholds, masks would be required for two weeks starting the following Monday, according to the updated learning plan.

Data from the North Shore Health Department from Feb. 10 to Feb. 23 indicate the North Shore's current burden — or case rate per 100,000 people in the last two weeks — is 199.

Data from the Whitefish Bay School District last updated on Wednesday show a 0.12 percent positivity rate for students and staff.