DE PERE – The Unified School District of De Pere will be transitioning all of its schools to full-time virtual instruction due to new cases of COVID-19 and the resulting need to quarantine a large number of students and staff.
In addition, as the infection rates in De Pere and Brown County continue to rise, the three local hospitals are reporting they have reached a critical stage with the number of hospitalizations they are experiencing.
The district said it is taking this action to protect the health and safety of its students, staff and families.
“We have planned for this scenario and are ready to quickly make the transition,” said a press release from the district. “It is our intent to return to face to face and blended instruction on Monday, Oct. 12. Other factors, such as community spread and local hospitalization rates will influence the district’s decision to reopen on Oct. 12 or to extend virtual instruction.”
The schedule for its schools is as follows.
High school and middle school:
• Friday, Sept. 25: No School. Teachers prepare for virtual instruction.
• Monday, Sept. 28: Virtual instruction begins.
• Monday, Oct. 12: Tentative date for return to blended learning instruction.
Foxview Intermediate and Elementary Schools:
• Friday, Sept. 25: Foxview and all elementary schools report to school as scheduled with early release and virtual elementary parent-teacher conferences.
• Monday, Sept. 28: No School. Teachers prepare for virtual instruction.
• Tuesday Sept. 29: Virtual instruction begins.
• Monday, Oct. 12: Tentative date for return to full time in-person instruction
Notification of close contacts
Consistent with the district’s COVID-19 exposure protocols, families of students who are identified as close contacts will receive a separate email and/or phone communication with details on quarantine and testing.
Additional details on technology support, food service, learning schedules and more will be forwarded to families Friday.
“We know full time virtual learning is not ideal for some students and families,” the email said. “However, we are confident in our ability to provide meaningful and progressive instruction, and have made significant changes to our virtual program since the statewide school closure last spring. We also understand how hard it is for families to make alternative arrangements on short notice. Closing our schools is not a decision we take lightly.”
A continued request
Community spread of the virus affects the district’s ability to provide in-person instruction at its schools.
It asks families take the necessary precautions to help in mitigating the spread of COVID-19, by continuing wearing a face covering, practicing social distancing, avoiding large group gatherings, and staying home when sick.