Phased approach to Mask Protocols

Dear MMSD Students, Families and Staff,

Recently, Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) announced the Dane County mask mandate will expire March 1, 2022. As a result of their announcement, and with consideration of current COVID-19 metrics along with the guidance of MMSD’s medical advisory team and experts, I am writing to inform you of our plan to begin a phased approach to modifying some of the district's COVID-19 masking protocols. The phases of the plan include:

Phase One

Beginning March 1, 2022, MMSD will shift to masks being recommended but not mandatory while outdoors for all grade levels. This includes masks being strongly recommended but not mandatory for outdoor athletics and events. 

Also beginning March 1st, athletes, co-curricular and MSCR participants and officials will be able to unmask indoors when they are actively competing, exerting, or performing. Spectators and coaches are required to continue wearing masks indoors.

Phase Two

Historically, our return from breaks have fueled significant spikes in positive case counts throughout the pandemic. Therefore, we will continue with masking indoors through spring break with a commitment to provide an updated decision on indoor masking after spring break and no later than April 15, 2022. A phased approach and monitoring of local metrics post break will safeguard our ability to remain learning in-person if history repeats itself with a spike in positive cases in April.

Additionally, masks will continue to be required on buses per federal guidelines. Other prevention strategies still in effect include:

• Promoting vaccination

• Physical distancing

• Testing 

• Ventilation

• Handwashing and respiratory etiquette

• Staying home when sick and getting tested

• Contact tracing positive cases and identifying high risk close contacts (household members)

• Cleaning and disinfection

As a result of a steady, thoughtful, and meticulous approach to safety mitigation, we are in a much better position than we were only weeks ago. I would like to thank our staff for their commitment to the safety and success of all our scholars during this pandemic.

Finally, thank you students and families for your patience and support throughout this pandemic. Our mission of making sure every student is college, career, and community ready can only be accomplished in partnership with you. Be safe, and let’s keep pushing forward together to finish the school year strong!

Sincerely,

Carlton D. Jenkins, Ph.D.
Superintendent

Phase 2 - March 10, 2022

Dear MMSD Students, Families, and Staff,

On February 23, we informed you of the district's plan to take a phased approach to modifying our COVID-19 safety measures while continuing to monitor local conditions through spring break. Positive case counts are declining locally, and we remain optimistic the downward trend will continue. Therefore, the district is moving forward with its phased approach to modifying its safety measures as conditions improve.

Although masking for everyone indoors will continue through spring break, the district will be making modifications to its COVID-19 safety measures, which will go into effect Tuesday, March 15. Details on how the modifications have changed from what they were before can be found by visiting MMSD’s COVID-19 safety measures webpage. All adjustments to the district’s safety measures are supported by local metrics, and in alignment with the guidance of our medical advisory team and experts.

The modifications include:

Outdoors

• Maintaining physical distancing of three feet is now recommended, and not required.

• Cohorting is not required during recess.

Note: We are continuing to ask parents to remain outdoors for student drop off and pick up.

Indoors

• Maintaining a minimum physical distance of three feet at all times, including lunch.

• Cohorting is not required indoors as long as three feet of physical distancing is followed.

Field Trips

• Field trips will continue with the addition of trips to venues not requiring masks; however, as long as MMSD’s mask protocol for field trips is in place, masks will be worn indoors including when the venue does not require them.

Event Planning (Graduation, Prom, Banquets, etc.)

• Large in-person events such as Graduation, Prom, and Banquets will continue with the expectation event participants will follow the district COVID-19 safety measures and Board policies that are in place at the time of the event.

As we progress through the school year while following the district’s current COVID-19 safety measures, we will continue prioritizing the mental health and well-being of our scholars. All opportunities where we can safely phase-in activities to increase personal interaction and socialization at school will be carefully considered. In addition, for students with complex medical conditions or those who are immunocompromised, we will be updating individual health plans, 504 plans and IEPs, as needed, for accommodations in school.

Our approach throughout this pandemic has been grounded in maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for all students and staff, and we continue our work to keep you informed of the latest COVID-19 protocol updates. Please know, school leaders will be working with staff on how your school will be phasing in these latest modifications. Families can anticipate additional information on COVID-19 safety measures in the upcoming days. 

In the meantime, we ask for your ongoing support, understanding and patience as we continue pushing forward with the goal of ending the school year strong!

Sincerely, 

 

Carlton D. Jenkins, Ph.D.

Superintendent

 

April 15, 2022

Dear MMSD Students, Families, and Staff,

We have welcomed the 4th Quarter of this school year with much energy and excitement! As we look forward to in-person events like prom, field trips, banquets, and graduation, I want to extend my appreciation and gratitude for your ongoing patience, understanding, and flexibility. Together, we are continuing to follow our mitigation strategies and navigate the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic while keeping students, staff, and our school community safe and well.

In March, our district adopted a phased approach to modifying our COVID-19 safety measures, which included continuing to wear masks indoors through spring break and beyond, to safeguard against a potential COVID spike similar to what we experienced shortly after winter break. In March, we also committed to providing you this update to our mask protocols by today (April 15).

On Tuesday, our Metrics team, including our medical advisors, met to review local COVID conditions and discuss whether the timing was right to modify indoor masking requirements. During this meeting, our medical advisors shared their perspectives on current conditions. They also made the recommendation that it was in the best interest of our students and staff to extend our requirement for wearing masks indoors until at least the first week of May. 

Five important considerations influenced our decision to extend our indoor mask requirement:

1. MMSD’s main goal is to keep schools open and scholars learning safely in-person. We strongly believe this in the best interest of students, families, staff, and the community.

2. Second to vaccination, the most effective way to prevent spread of any virus is wearing a mask.

3. There has been a moderate increase in positive COVID cases locally. Daily positive case counts in Dane county have exceeded 100, and continue a steady upward trajectory. 

4. The extension provides additional time to monitor the current surge while continuing to safeguard against viral spread by wearing masks indoors in advance of this date.

5. The extension is in alignment with the CDC mask mandate expiration for public transportation.

During this extension, we will continue to have weekly Metrics meetings, and ongoing discussions, with our medical advisors. Moving forward, we are committed to providing an update on our indoor mask protocol by May 6.

As we enter the final stretch of this school year, we continue to be stronger together. Our shared humanity compels us to uplift our sense of community. Therefore, I extend my deepest appreciation for your partnership and patience as we work to move forward with our scholars and staff learning safely in-person. 

Carlton D. Jenkins, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Madison Metropolitan School District