Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools Announces Plan to Return to 5 Days a Week Instruction

Wisconsin Rapids (OnFocus) – Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools has announced the intent to return to 5 days a week instruction beginning Monday, April 26.

In an April 8 letter to district parents, WRPS Superintendent Craig Broeren indicated implementation of the plan is contingent on COVID-19 numbers and case rates not increasing.

If that plan needs to change based upon local circumstances, I will be sure to communicate that in as proactive a fashion as possible, Broeren notes in the letter.

Below is the communication district parents received:

Once again, thank you for your continued support throughout this school year as well as for our recent referenda; your support will be very evident over the next several years as we continue to improve facilities, curriculum, and technology District-wide to directly benefit our kids and the community.

Prior to moving to the four (4) days per week in-person schedule at WRAMS and LHS, I alluded to the fact that we would be evaluating a return to five (5) days per week in-person schedule if COVID-19 cases continue to be low in the District and the surrounding community. Since our return to four (4) days per week and the implementation of surveillance testing, we certainly have had cases in both students and staff; however, at this time this change does not appear to have had any significant impact on COVID cases in students and/or staff. Given this, it does seem reasonable at this time to transition to five (5) days per week in-person instruction at WRAMS and LHS.

Due to spring break being last week and the fact that many families traveled during that
time, we will not implement the five (5) day per week in-person approach until Monday, April 26. This will allow us enough time to determine whether or not spring break will or will not have any impact on COVID 19 cases in the District and the area. We hope that by communicating this now, there is ample time to prepare for what we hope to be the final transition for this school year.

As a recap, we implemented the four (4) day per week approach the week of March 15 (two weeks prior to spring break), then had the week of spring break and have now been back to school for just under one additional week. If we are going to make decisions based on available data and evidence, we need some time to elapse to allow us to get a more accurate picture of what is or is not occurring.

Based on what we currently know, it can take two weeks or more for the virus to incubate and produce positive cases which makes a full return on April 26 a logical time to implement the change. If that plan needs to change based upon local circumstances, I will be sure to communicate that in as proactive a fashion as possible.

In short and to be direct- our current plan is to have all students back to five (5) days per week in-person instruction beginning Monday, April 26, 2021; however, there is a possibility that we may not implement this change if COVID numbers and case rates increase. We will continue to evaluate relevant data and will work collaboratively with our medical advisors and public health to make decisions that are in the best interest of students, staff members, and our community at large.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Craig G. Broeren
Superintendent

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