COVID-19 Information

June 23, 2020
 

Dear Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Families,

Yesterday, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) released a document outlining various scenarios and considerations for safely and successfully reopening Wisconsin schools. Our team of district and school leaders are working diligently, alongside our local health department, to develop a plan for fall.

Please help us best prepare for the coming school year by completing a brief survey. Your valuable feedback will help guide our planning for a responsible return to school. Your responses are anonymous. The survey is open now and will close on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 5:00 pm. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.  We need to understand through numbers how people feel about returning to school, and about basic operational features--like riding a school bus--so we can keep preparing in an informed way for what’s coming.    

Next week, you will receive information about our Annual Check-in process (formerly known as online registration). Completing this process is an important first step in preparing for the 2020-2021 school year. Now, more than ever, it’s essential we have your most current contact information on file. This process is important, so please take a few minutes to complete the Annual Check-in.

We appreciate your input, patience, support as we work to develop our plan for fall. We will continue to keep our families updated as plans come into focus.  The guidance from DPI was an important part of the picture.  Expect more frequent communication leading up to the start of the school year.  July will entail a great deal of critical planning, as well as monitoring of any new developments throughout the state.  

W’re going to use every summer day we’ve got to get ready for fall.  

Sincerely,

Dan Unertl, Superintendent & the Oak Creek/Franklin Joint School District Board of Education     

June 10, 2020

 

Dear Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Students and Families,

As we wrap up the 2019-2020 school year, we would like to invite you to provide your feedback on your virtual learning experience by completing the Virtual Reflection and Planning Survey. Your valuable feedback will help our school and district leaders understand your experiences and plan for the possibilities of the future.

We recognize that this is an overwhelming time for many of you and appreciate hearing from parents, guardians, students, and educators. Your participation is completely voluntary and your responses are anonymous. The survey will close on Wednesday, June 17 at 5:00 pm. 

Thank you,
The Learning Team

June 9, 2020 

 

Dear Oak Creek-Franklin Families, 

This is the time of year when Wisconsinites remember why we love seasons; winter becomes brilliant spring and summer.  The seasons help us remember that change is constant.  We could choose to think of summer as the annual blooming of the orange road cones, or like we did when we were young, when summer seemed to last forever, and the pause between school years held all the possibility and potential of a perfect summer day.    

We have just concluded an unprecedented year.  Our community has proven that we can adapt to all sorts of challenges.  We had to do our collective best, physically apart, but still maintain the community that supports one another.  Thank you to our families for your extraordinary efforts these last few months of distance learning as we changed nearly every aspect of the educational model. I could not be prouder of our community given what we came through this spring.  Our meal program collaboration with the Salvation Army, for example, will be a memory I always carry. 

As a District, we are preparing for the challenges that we will face next year.  Going back to school in fall 2020 may not look like it did in fall 2019.  It is impossible to predict now where we will be in response to the pandemic in the coming months. That puts our school teams in the position of planning and preparing for several different scenarios for fall.  For certain, we will be implementing enhancements in cleaning practices and the addition of personal protective equipment in our typical routines, but we also have to prepare to provide different or staggered phases of in-person instruction and distance learning--just in case. Much like how we moved into virtual learning so quickly, preparing for these new difficult potential scenarios is a daunting task. However, I know that our planning will allow us to be prepared for whatever changes must be faced come fall.   

Obviously, anything other than a typical fall will stretch our families and students.  That said, we will continue working and planning throughout the summer, and families will likely find more communication, in terms of updates or solicitations for input, as we work to finalize our plans for next fall.

Circumstances have not been easy for anyone, but I have found that if I take my young children outside, and watch them play, if I close my eyes for a moment, the world is still here, and Wisconsin summer is as vibrant and beautiful as it was when I was a child.  Fall will come, and we will work tirelessly in preparation.   

In gratitude, and on behalf of our dedicated Board, caring staff, and myself, thank you for your continued support and resilience.

 

Take care, 

Daniel Unertl, J.D.

Superintendent, Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District  

June 2, 2020

 

Dear Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Families, 

Monday, June 8th will be the last meal distribution day for our meal program. We would like to thank The Salvation Army, Taher Leadership, our food service staff, and the countless volunteers who helped prepare and distribute over 90,000 meals during the school closure. Please visit www.ocfsd.org/meals to view pick-up locations, delivery sites, and menu information for Wednesday, June 3, and Monday, June 8.

The WI Department of Instruction has a list of organizations that provide free healthy meals to children throughout the summer. Please visit the Find A Summer Meals Site page of the DPI website to search for local meal sites and dates of operation. This information along with a list of local food pantries is also available on the meal information page of our website (www.ocfsd.org/meals). 

The Oak Creek Salvation Army food pantry continues to serve our community members in need. If you would like to support The Salvation Army’s food pantry in Oak Creek, please donate online through their Virtual Food Drive. All food donations stay local and help people directly in our community. Monetary donations can also be made online. 
 

Thank you,

Andrew Chromy, SFO, CSRM

Chief Business and Finance Officer

June 2, 2020

 

Dear Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Families,

As we wrap up a unique 2019-2020 school year, we would like to thank you for assisting your learner with their journey into virtual learning. We appreciate all your effort, time, questions, and mostly, your support!  Below are a few updates regarding school-issued electronic devices.  

School-Issued Electronic Devices
Students in grades 4K - 11 should keep their school-issued electronic devices (Chromebooks, iPads, and hotspots) over the summer. We encourage your student to use their school-issued device to engage in learning throughout the summer months. Students who did not take a school-issued device will have one assigned to them in the fall. If you have moved or are planning to move out of the district over the summer, please call 768-6149 to schedule a time to drop off your student’s school-issued device.

Senior students should return their assigned Chromebook on June 8 or 9. Senior families, please review the email communication sent from the high school on 5/29/20. 

Our IT team will continue to operate the device service center at our district office, 7630 S 10th Street, on Tuesdays from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm and on Thursdays from 12:00 - 4:00 pm throughout the summer. You may also contact IT support at 768-6149 or email helpdesk@ocfsd.org. 

Thank you,
The Learning Team

April 17, 2020 

 

Dear Oak Creek-Franklin Families, 

Yesterday afternoon Governor Evers extended the Safer at Home order from April 24 to May 26, or until a superseding order is issued. The order states that public and private K-12 schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year as part of the state’s efforts to respond to and contain the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin. 

This means we will not be returning to our school classrooms this school year.  We had been holding out hope that conditions would improve and the Governor would allow us to return...that we could again learn together face-to-face...but it is not to be.  We will continue working to resolve numerous questions related to a variety of recognitions, programs, and events (from locker clean-out to graduation); more communication on these subjects will be forthcoming from District departments and school leaders.     

With the recent announcement, we will continue, as we planned, for virtual learning to continue through the end of the school year.  Our meal program will also continue. 

We are going to continue working as hard as we can to bridge the gap between now and when our students are able to return to classrooms. We do not want to create additional stress and worry for our students and their families in these challenging times.  Like everything else related to this public health crisis, we will remain flexible, work to maintain student engagement, provide opportunities for learning, and ensure our students feel valued and are experiencing success. 

If you need anything, please contact your teacher or your principal, and please know that we all could not be more appreciative of your continued support as we build and refine our virtual learning program while implementing it at the same time.

Additionally, the Oak Creek Health Department has continued to stress that social distancing is crucial to preventing the spread of COVID-19; the Oak Creek Department of Public Works has posted signs on our playgrounds--given the Governor’s Safer at Home Order--please avoid all school playgrounds and athletic facilities.   

Student Chromebook/device support or repair service remains available at the District Office Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, and will be as long as there are school personnel available.  Students and families can also email helpdesk@ocfsd.org or call 414-768-6149 with any questions regarding their device. 

 

Take care,

Daniel Unertl, J.D.

Superintendent, Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District 

March 27, 2020 

Dear Oak Creek-Franklin Families, 

Earlier this week, Governor Evers ordered an extension to the school closures in our state. In keeping with this mandate, the current plan is to keep schools closed until at least Thursday, April 23, but as noted in earlier messages, we are planning as if we have spent our last day in school this year. We will continue to keep you updated.  The closures will continue to affect all District programming. Community food service will remain available.

Some good news…  The work completed over Spring Break was as successful as we could have hoped for in working toward the targets we shared last Friday.  Here are a few brief notes regarding what we continue to work on: 
 

• March 16 - 20th, Extended learning opportunities 4K-12, IT infrastructure build-out, device assignment 6-12. - Complete
• ​March 23rd, 4K-5 device assignment. - Complete
• March 23 - 27th, Spring Break, continued preparation and planning. - Complete
• March 30 - April 3rd, All staff virtual learning training; parent communication and instructions on setting up the communication tool (Seesaw, 4K-5) for virtual learning. 
• April 6 - 9th, 4K-5 continued virtual learning training; finalize parent communication and instructions on setting up the communication tool (Seesaw 4K-5) for virtual learning. 
• April 6, 6-12 virtual learning begins. 
• April 14, or before, virtual learning until the conclusion of the year (or return to traditional school), for all students in grades 4K-12.  

We were able to distribute several hundred devices and wireless hotspots in the last few days, which means that we are still on track to begin virtual learning on April 6 for 6-12 students, and on or before April 14th for 4K-5 students.  

If your family did not pick up a device and needs one, please contact your school directly and they will accommodate you between now and when we plan to start virtual learning.  All our offices continue to be staffed.  

Reminder, we are still planning for Quarter 4 to be conducted entirely in a virtual-learning format.  That means assigned, graded work, designed to continue continuity of essential content. Expect more information on this topic throughout the school closure, likely from the Office of Teaching and Learning and your school’s principal.    

Student Chromebook/device support or repair service will be available at the District Office between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM as long as there are school personnel available.  Students and families can also email helpdesk@ocfsd.org or call 414-768-6149 with any questions regarding their device. Reminder, you can still complete this Service/Request Device form and indicate you need to obtain a hotspot for wifi access or service to your device.  

Additionally, we are typically hosted by our community partners at the City of Oak Creek in council chambers for our Board meetings; we will temporarily move back to our District Office, in order to comply with CDC social distancing guidelines, until further notice.  

One final reminder today, the Department of Public Works has posted signs on our playgrounds--given the Governor’s Safer at Home Order--please avoid all school playgrounds and athletic facilities.  

Take care,

Daniel Unertl, J.D.
Superintendent, Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District

March 20, 2020 

 

 

Dear Oak Creek-Franklin Families, 

With the announcement from Governor Evers that schools are closed indefinitely, we continue to hope for a return to school but are planning as if we have spent our last day in the classroom for the 2019-2020 school year.  This will result in innumerable questions, and we will continue to work through them with your support.  

So much change so quickly is jarring.  We are all facing new challenges; in about a week, we have spoken to families whose homes have become food insecure, who have lost their jobs, or who are working from home for the first time ever...who feel adrift and uncertain about the future.  Our school community wants to support families, not further overwhelm. All that follows, outlines our most earnest attempt to serve. 

Thank you for your help, patience, and understanding during Wednesday, Thursday, and today’s equipment and extended learning material distribution.  Shout-outs on the website, personal messages to various staff members, and positive posts on social media have not gone unnoticed--in fact, that positive outpouring of support has likely kept much of our staff going while we work around the clock and respond to challenges as they surface.  

You have no doubt observed that some of the 421 school districts throughout Wisconsin have pre-existing online school options, and others do not.  We are in a middle-place, where we use Google Classroom, Dojo, and a variety of other platforms, but always driven by face-to-face instruction. Despite the significant challenges we face, we will evolve in spite of the pandemic.  Our transition from a face-to-face learning model, to a virtual model, will not be without challenges.  Earlier this week, we learned that we cannot gather together in groups larger than ten--and there will be more hurdles still.  Throughout this closure, our staff will be working to provide the best continuity of teaching and learning that we are able, and that will mean virtual learning.       

This week we were able to deploy devices for grades 6-12, wireless hotspots, and extended learning materials.  We chose 6-12 first because many of those students have devices 24/7 already, and we would be better able to learn from the flow of a more limited distribution, how to maintain social distancing guidelines.  If you are a 6-12 family and did not pick up a device and need one, please contact your school directly and they will accommodate you.  Distribution has been extremely smooth, so we will move quickly with 4K-5 deployment.  We are also concerned about a further tightening of restrictions on where we can move and gather, as we have seen in other parts of the country. 

On Monday, March 23, we will deploy devices for all students 4K-5 who need them.  If you do not have an electronic device at home for your 4K-5th grade child to utilize, please use your smartphone to request a device, or call your child’s school, or call your child’s school--that way, we will be ready for you.  More details will come directly from your school’s principal.  If you cannot make it on Monday to pick up a device, please contact your child’s school directly at any point between now and when we plan to start virtual learning, and they will work to accommodate you.      

At this moment, and throughout Spring Break, members of our team will work to finalize a plan to provide our staff with the professional development they require, between now and our targeted date to begin virtual learning, on April 6 for 6-12 students, and on or before April 14th for 4K-5 students.  That means that between Spring Break and the scheduled off-days of April 10th and 13th, we will have moved from a face-to-face model, to a virtual model, in 10-14 work/instructional days or less.     

This is our tentative plan to move from a model used in education before this pandemic, to whatever comes after.  There will be errors, omissions, and mistakes--and all of this is predicated upon our workforce remaining healthy.  There are many grade-level specific questions that will need to be answered.  We have had questions about events like prom and graduation, and each will be answered as we move forward--likely through communication from your school’s principal.    

Targets: 

• March 16 - 20th, Extended learning opportunities 4K-12, IT infrastructure build-out, device assignment 6-12.
• March 23rd, 4K-5 large-scale device assignment.
• March 23 - 27th, Spring Break, continued preparation and planning.
• March 30 - April 3rd, All staff virtual learning training; parent communication and instructions on setting up the communication tool (Seesaw, 4K-5) for virtual learning. 
• April 6 - 9th, K4-5 continued virtual learning training; finalize parent communication and instructions on setting up the communication tool (Seesaw 4K-5) for virtual learning. 
• April 6, 6-12 virtual learning begins. 
• April 14, or before, virtual learning until the conclusion of the year (or return to traditional school), for all students in grades 4K-12.  

We are planning for Quarter 4 to be conducted entirely in a virtual-learning format.  That means assigned, graded work, designed to continue continuity of essential content--different than “Extended Learning Materials,” shared this week, which were designed as enrichment, while we geared up to move into a virtual learning model and families planned for this challenging time.   

Every plan we make has been affected by this rapidly developing pandemic; we are providing this communication regarding virtual learning at this juncture to allow for students and families to gain an understanding of what is being built and deployed--but we are certain there will be changes.  Thank you for understanding that we are doing the absolute best we can.      

Earlier this week, we sent communication to families who might lack access to the internet at home.  If you do not have adequate internet access for students to engage with virtual learning, consider using your mobile device to click Spectrum's link to free internet, or complete this Request a Device form and indicate you need to obtain a hotspot for wifi access.  Or you can always call us. Our offices continue to be staffed.   

Student Chromebook/device support or repair service will be available at the District Office between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM as long as there are school personnel available.  Students and families can also email helpdesk@ocfsd.org with any questions regarding their device. 

Take care,

Daniel Unertl, J.D.
Superintendent, Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District

March 17, 2020

Dear Oak Creek-Franklin Families, 

As time passes, it will be impossible to know if public service providers overreacted or did too much, but it will be very clear if we under reacted or did too little.  

Since our last family message Sunday, we have seen the recommendations for public gatherings move from 250, to 50, to 10.  In recent days, much of our dedicated staff has worked around the clock, contributing to contingencies and pitching in. We employ nearly a thousand people, and in the days since we closed, we have been inundated with requests from staff to come in anyway, to volunteer in any way possible, to help--we have had school leaders essentially working non-stop since the 9th; one is not generally called to work in education or public health without that wiring.  Our efforts to provide week-day meals to our students, with the help of extraordinary partners like the Salvation Army, expands today to include strategic delivery sites throughout the community--and will continue during spring break, and at least through April 3rd.       

We continue to plan to be out at least until Governor Tony Evers’ tentative return date of April 6th, and perhaps beyond.    

We have seen Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett state, "This is the most serious challenge the world has faced since World War II."  We have learned of the first confirmed case of the virus in Oak Creek from the Health Department. And moments after sharing plans with our staff for a District-wide inservice today, President Donald Trump announced new restrictions on gatherings of people, limiting them to ten.  

Upon learning of the President’s announcement, we immediately canceled our professional development slated for today.  No amount of social distancing could reasonably be expected to be sustained when you bring an entire staff back into a school.  Our professional development model in education largely consists of gathering together. We will now work together on this next challenge: planning without massing our staff or community together.  These are unprecedented times, to say the least.

Our canceled inservice today was designed to facilitate a large scale, rapid deployment of wireless hot-spots, Chromebooks, and general extended learning materials.  However, following the President’s guidance, we will avoid anything that could potentially bring the public together in mass.  

Our Teaching and Learning team in partnership with our Information Technology department has developed a feasible plan to extend learning opportunities to your family.  

4K-5th grade families may pick up materials during the days and times below if you cannot access the materials in the links from your principals.

6th, 7th, 11th, and 12th grade families may pick up a device if needed during the days and times below.  

The materials are designed for extended learning.  No one is required to participate--health, safety, work schedules, childcare--the decisions made in your own household matter most.  

If you choose to come, please plan for a drive-thru style pick up at your child(rens) school(s) as identified below.  We understand a timeframe given may not work for your schedule, in that case, please stop anytime Thursday or Friday that works best for your family.  If you know a neighbor or friend cannot pick up their child’s materials, please feel free to pick it up for them.  

Thursday, March 19th:

• 7:00 am - 11:00 am  Last name beginning with A-M
• 11:00 am - 4:30 pm Last name beginning with N-Z

Friday, March 20th:

• 7:00 am - 11:00 am  Last name beginning with N-Z
• 11:00 am - 4:30 pm Last name beginning with A-M

Your principal will be sending a message today that will include the following information. A map of your school with the pick-up traffic pattern, so we can expedite this process for all families.  The message will also include a link to digital books that are available to your child free of charge. We have put together non-screen time Extended Learning Opportunities for our 4K-5th grade families as well.  A PDF of those 4K-5th grade resources will also be linked in your principal’s message. If you can access these links and digital book resources, there is no need for you to visit an elementary school on Thursday or Friday.  For our 6th, 7th, 11th, and 12th grade families, if you need one, we will be assigning a Chromebook and charger to your student.  The Extended Learning Opportunities for 6-12th grade can be pushed out electronically and will be included in the email from your principal as well.   

For families that do not have access to the internet, we will have hotspots (which allow wifi access) available for check out at the district office Thursday and Friday from 7:00 am - 4:30 pm.  The District Office is located at 7630 S. 10th Street, Oak Creek; you can walk-up, or call 414-768-5886, and we will walk a hotspot out to you.      

Right now, our schools have very limited staff.  Should you need a coat, or a clarinet, medications stored on site, or something else, please call your student’s school, and we will do our best to accommodate you.  PLEASE, if you would like to enter a building for any reason, do it on Wednesday.  

The District will continue to share our most up to date information and most recent family messages on the Coronavirus Information page on our District website.  Please know your school district leaders, local health officials, and community partners are working around the clock in order to take preventive measures to keep our community safe. 

On behalf of our Board and our entire school community, thank you for your continued support.  It is moments like this where the true character of our community is revealed.  

Daniel Unertl, J.D.
Superintendent, Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District

March 15, 2020

 

Dear Oak Creek-Franklin Families, 

On behalf of the entire school district team--our Board, our teachers, everyone--thank you for the overwhelming support in this uncertain time.  We know that there are many unanswered questions, and your understanding has been a powerful testament to the strength of our community.  Last Friday--with the picture rapidly unfolding for the next few weeks in public education--schools throughout Wisconsin announcing closures, our own announcement, followed by the governor’s announcement, which provided an even wider window…  Unprecedented acts to say the least. 

Until the Governor’s announcement, which prescribed a designated window for closure, our District's position was one of measured reaction.  We would wait until our local health authority advised closure, disinfect our schools frequently, provide resources from the CDC, and monitor closely in the interim.  Many districts had hoped we were experiencing a period of rising concern that would ultimately prove to be an exaggeration--and we truly hope that is still the case.  However, now we face a period of closure from today, to the Governor’s tentative return date of April 6th.  We’d hoped that this week, followed by spring break would be enough to allow our District to help combat community spread of Covid-19, and minimize our loss of instructional time.    

In sum, we’re off Monday and at least through spring break. We want to come back March 30, but we might not be able to, so we’re planning to be out at least until the Governor's tentative return date of April 6th.  

First, we face the challenge of feeding our students who depend on the schools for meals. In partnership with the Salvation Army, tentatively, expect the following:

• Lunches will be made available to all community members 18 and under from March 16-20.  All future days will be determined by March 19.  
• Lunches will consist of a bag lunch and beverage and be distributed in drive-up fashion in an effort to adhere to the guidelines of the health department.
• Locations:
  • Forest Ridge (2200 W Drexel Ave)
  • Oak Creek High School (340 E Puetz Rd)
  • Salvation Army (8853 S Howell Ave)
• Times: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Second, this situation is fluid, and we’re learning new information every day.  However, below you’ll read how we will attempt to help facilitate learning, despite these challenges, if closures must extend.  You’ll likely hear a lot about virtual learning, or extended learning opportunities, in the coming days.  Our model here in Oak Creek/Franklin is built around a licensed teacher, with a big heart and a toolbox filled with practices, working directly with your kids--not in virtual reality, but in real-time.  Full fledged virtual academies are entirely different models. Additionally, perhaps a third of our students do not have home access to the internet--and we don’t know how long providers' offers of free, temporary internet will take to deploy.  Delivery for our youngest students, students with special needs, English Language Learners, students experiencing poverty--not to mention child care challenges--will also prove daunting.  

That said, our staff will pull together and treat this challenge like an opportunity.  

• Monday, March 16th, all school administrators and a number of support staff will come together to continue to address extended learning opportunities, should this closure move as far as the governor projects, or further.    
• Tuesday, March 17th, all available teachers will report to school and prepare to deploy extended learning opportunities for students, should we remain closed beyond spring break.  
• Wednesday, March 18th, schools will be open for families or students to stop by and collect any essential belongings or medications stored at school, and potentially check-out devices.  More information to come.        

At this time, we will continue to evaluate circumstances as they unfold.  Perhaps, as we hope, reactions have reached further than necessary, and we can return to school, as originally planned, after our scheduled spring break.  Should further closure be needed, we’ll do what we’ve always done, and work together to build what’s next. Expect additional communication leading up to Wednesday, and as we near the conclusion of spring break, or as circumstances warrant.  

The District will continue to share our most up to date information and most recent family messages on this page of our website.

Please know your school district leaders, local health officials, and community partners are working around the clock in order to take preventive measures to keep our community safe. 

In appreciation for your continued support,

Daniel Unertl, J.D.

Superintendent

Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District

 

 

March 13, 2020

 

 

Dear Oak Creek-Franklin Families, 

The safety of our students, staff and our community will always be our top priority.  With the support of our local health department and in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 throughout the community, the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District has made the difficult decision to close the week of Monday, March 16.  Spring break will continue as planned from March 23-27, 2020. 

All school district-sponsored activities, athletics, and events are also canceled during this time period.  

Youth Programs, ASPIRE, and School Days Out along with any other programs run through Youth Programs will be canceled starting Saturday, March 14th and following the same timeline as the school district. Watch for further communication updates near the end of spring break.   

The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving and changing, we will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation over spring break and will provide our families with an update near the end of the spring break week. Updates will also be posted on the school district’s coronavirus information webpage. 

If your family is still planning to travel over spring break, please review the CDC’s recommendations on postponing or canceling travel. Please contact your child’s school if you plan to travel to a CDC identified Level 2 or 3 risk area or if you plan to travel to an area in the U.S. with sustained community spread. Should you be unable to connect with your child’s school next week, the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Office will be staffed throughout the closure.  Because the list of these areas will likely change, the health department is recommending you be prepared to self-quarantine in home for 14 days following return, if your family plans to travel. Notifying your child’s school of these travel plans may help coordinate case-by-case distance learning supports your student may need in the event of a quarantine.  

We encourage families to practice social distancing and to continue following the preventive measures recommended by the CDC: 

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

Public health emergencies, such as the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), can make children and families feel anxious.  We have a list of resources on the District website, including a resource from the National Association of School Psychologists about Talking to Children About COVID-19.

Please know your school district leaders and local health officials are working around the clock to monitor the situation and make sure we are taking the necessary preventive measures to keep our community safe. 

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. 

Dan Unertl

Superintendent

Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District

 

 

March 6, 2020

 

Dear Oak Creek-Franklin Families and Staff,

The Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District and the Oak Creek Health Department value the well-being of our students, staff, families, and community. We want you to know that we are working together to monitor the COVID-19, or coronavirus, outbreak in the United States.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus was first identified during an outbreak in China and has since spread to many other countries, including the United States. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. COVID-19 can be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets from sneezing and coughing or between people who are in close contact with one another.

Both the Health Department and the School District have emergency response plans that have been created, tested, and revised over the past several years. We are confident in our ability to implement public health recommendations and respond if COVID-19 affects our community.

The risk for COVID-19 remains low in Wisconsin. Currently, we are seeing normal seasonal cold and flu activity in our community. The best way to stay healthy is to take everyday preventive actions, including

• Getting a flu shot – it is not too late! 
• Washing hands often with soap and water
• Help children learn to wash their hands well
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue, sleeve, or your arm
• Stay home if you are feeling sick
• Keep children home from school if they are sick
• Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

You will find additional information, including resources for parents on the School District website. You can also visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website or Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) website for factual and up-to-date information.

The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving and changing, and there is uncertainty involved. We will do our best to keep you up to date as important changes arise. If you have questions, we encourage you to contact the Health Department at (414) 766-7950.

Sincerely,

Darcy DuBois, MPH	Dan Unertl, J.D.
Health Officer	Superintendent
Oak Creek Health Department	Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District

 

Monday, June 8th will be the last meal distribution day for our meal program. Please visit www.ocfsd.org/meals for more information, including summer meal sites and local resources. 

 

 

If you have an IEP/504 meeting scheduled. At this juncture, scheduled meetings will continue to take place as normal; with consideration to attendees or participants who may have symptoms of illness.  Contact your student’s case manager. 

Should my family cancel our travel plans for Spring Break?

The CDC provides recommendations on postponing or canceling travel. These are called travel notices and are based on the assessment of the potential health risks involved with traveling to a certain area. A list of destinations with travel notices is available here on the CDC website. A list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers regarding Travel can be also be found here on the CDC website. 

 

Will my child be able to return to school after traveling?

To slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) into the United States, CDC is working with state and local public health partners to implement after-travel health precautions. Depending on your travel history, you will be asked to stay home for a period of 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread (Level 3 Travel Health Notice).

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html

 

Please contact your child’s school if you plan to travel to a CDC identified Level 2 or 3 risk area or if you plan to travel to an area in the U.S. with sustained community spread. Should you be unable to connect with your child’s school next week, the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Office will be staffed throughout the closure.  Because the list of these areas will likely change, the health department is recommending you be prepared to self-quarantine in home for 14 days following return, if your family plans to travel. Notifying your child’s school of these travel plans may help coordinate case-by-case distance learning supports your student may need in the event of a quarantine.  

The District has intensified cleaning practices throughout our buildings and upgraded disinfectants to medical grade products. We continue to encourage students and staff to follow the CDC’s list of key preventative actions, like hand washing, to avoid the spread of disease.

Cleaning District Issued Chromebooks and Laptops at Home:  Please do NOT spray anything directly on the device as this can damage it. If you choose to use a spray, first spray the product on a cloth, then apply. Disinfecting wipes (such as Clorox wipes) work great, but please don't saturate the keyboard with the disinfectant. This information is for at-home cleaning only.  When at school, staff and students should use disinfectant products provided by Buildings & Grounds. 

Public health emergencies, such as the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), are stressful times for people and communities. Fear and anxiety about a disease can lead to social stigma toward people, places, or things. For example, stigma and discrimination can occur when people associate a disease, such as COVID-19, with a population or nationality, even though not everyone in that population or from that region is specifically at risk for the disease. Stigma can also occur after a person has been released from COVID-19 quarantine even though they are not considered a risk for spreading the virus to others.

Everyone can help stop stigma related to COVID-19 by knowing the facts and sharing them with others in your community.

Please see the list of resources for talking to children about COVID-19 and mental health and coping in the tab below. 

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/related-stigma.html

Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource (National Association of School Psychologists)

So You Have Questions About Coronavirus (Counselor Keri)

Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Talking With Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) 

Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) 

Spectrum's link to free internet

We encourage families to practice social distancing and to continue following the the list of prentive actions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

 

 

Visit the CDC Website