FAQ

Q: What will 4K wrap-around care look like?

A: We are planning wrap-around programs at Ben Franklin and Shady Lane. Students will not be mixed between the two schools. Students registered for wrap around will attend the program at the school they attend during the day. However, there will be mixing of students from classrooms when they do participate in the wrap around program, essentially creating another cohort of up to 25 students. The class sizes within wrap around will be up to 25, but could be smaller depending on enrollment.

Q: Will there be any air quality improvements made, such as classroom air purifiers or enhanced HVAC filtration systems?
A: We invested in a needlepoint bipolar ionization system on our air-handling units to kill pathogens, including the coronavirus, flu, and mold, and improve indoor air quality. The needlepoint bipolar ionization system, along with other mitigation efforts, will help SDMF continue to maximize face-to-face learning. Click here for more information.

Q: How frequently will classrooms be sanitized?
A: Classrooms will be disinfected both day and night by the custodial staff. Classrooms that have a higher absence rate will be additionally disinfected.

Q: Typically parents are asked to provide Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer for the school year. Will the school district be supplying these items since it has been impossible for the general public to find any of these products for purchase?
A: We are in the process of supplying every classroom space with disinfectant wipes for the year. The district is providing these across the district so we can be sure the products used are safe and effective. This plan was put in place before the Covid-19 situation. Our disinfectant and sanitizer wipes are the same product mixed at different durations. We use it as a sanitizer in wipes and as a disinfectant in our sprayers. Please click here for details about our sanitizer products.

Q: Will hand sanitizer be provided in the district?
A: Hand sanitizer stations have been installed in classrooms and high traffic areas. Students and staff will be asked to wash hands or use hand sanitizer upon entering or exiting a room. This hand sanitizer is the same brand used in all the Aurora Health Care buildings. Please click here for details about the hand sanitizer brand.

The annual back to school process for all students will began in mid-August.

1). Annual Data Verification - Parent will receive an email with instructions on updating your contact information, students' medical information, updated policies and agreements.

2). Paying School Fees -School fees will be available to be paid online.

For more information, please click on the links below for your school's Back to School page. and paying school fees.

• Ben Franklin Elementary
• Shady Lane Elementary
• Riverside Elementary
• Valley View Elementary
• North Middle School
• Menomonee Falls High School

Q: Will masks be required on the bus?
A: The CDC mandates that masks will be required for all students and drivers on the school bus. If a student does not have a mask, the bus drivers will be able to provide one to the student. If a student does not comply with this CDC order, the driver will report the student to the school for follow-up discussion.

Q: How will bus routes be adjusted to allow for social distancing?
A: Parents are encouraged to drive their child(ren) to and from school if concerned with busing protocol enforcement. It will be required for students who ride the bus wear a face mask.

Q: My child will be entering 2nd grade at Ben Franklin. We would be able to provide her with transportation to school in the mornings instead of using the bus like we have previous years. However, it might be difficult to always do parent pick-up at the end of the school day. Would we have the option to do parent drop off in the morning and busing in the afternoon?
A: Yes. Parents can can choose to have their child ride the bus on the days or times that are needed. Elementary students will be receiving a form as part of their annual back to school process - paying school fees, update of contact data and medical information.

Q: Can my child ride the bus to or from school home with another student?
A: To follow our safety procedures and limits on the number of students riding a bus, students may only ride their assigned bus to and from school.

Q: What safety measures are being taking in school to reduce the risk of Covid-19?

• Face coverings recommended, but not required, while in SDMF buildings
  • The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released guidance highly encouraging students, K-12, to wear face coverings at school. This guidance has been carefully considered in our collaborative decision making.
  • Current CDC order requires all students participating in school transportation services wear a face covering while riding the bus
• Isolation/Quarantine
  • Students or staff members who test positive for COVID will be required to isolate via past COVID practices
  • Isolated students will be provided with learning opportunities until they are able to return to the classroom
• Physical Distancing
  • Schools will continue to implement physical distancing of 3 feet where possible
  • Cohorts to minimize interactions between those groups of students and adults
• Disinfection/Ventilation
  • The needlepoint bipolar ionization system eliminates pathogens, including the coronavirus, flu and mold, and improves indoor air quality through the HVAC system at all district buildings
  • Touchpoints (i.e. doorknobs, light switches, etc.) will continue to be disinfected throughout all buildings on a daily basis

Q: What is a "pinch point" referenced in the plan?
A: A pinch point refers to places where congestion of people is common. An example of this would be waiting in lines to get lunch in the cafeteria. We will redesign processes so students can move through lunch lines quickly with more personal space.

Q: Will the school hours remain the same as last year?
A: Yes, our current planning retains the same start and end times for school days at all levels.

Q: Will the list of school supplies needed change? Example: 2 packs of 24 crayons. My child should have his own container of his own crayons, no sharing of items.

A: We will be limiting sharing of materials wherever possible and have cleaning protocols in place where materials must be shared. Please watch for communication from your child's school regarding school supplies.

Q: How will students work in teams with social distancing? Everyone is concerned about the students' social needs, but how can we work on them if everyone is socially distanced?

A: Students will be working together within their classroom cohorts

Q: What will the size of a cohort be at the elementary level?
A. Cohort sizes would be approximately the same class sizes as we have traditionally.

Q: Will students intermix with other cohorts during the day?
A: We will work to have student within their cohorts to the greatest extent possible. There are times that interventions may expand the child to have multiple cohorts.

Q: If a student or staff member has had COVID-19 is there a quarantine consideration for their natural immunity?
A: Currently Waukesha Public Health provides an exemption for quarantine for 90 days from the positive test date. Students who have tested positive in the past 90 days do not need to quarantine.

Q: If a student tests positive for COVID-19, what will the procedure be for everyone that student has come in contact with?
A: The student will be sent home and parents will be notified if their child has been exposed.

Q: How long must a student or staff stay home after a fever?
A: This will depend on the situation. Many illnesses cause a fever for different reasons; not all fevers will be a result of COVID-19. Our current policy is 24 hours without fever reducing medication.

Q: If a teacher or student, or someone in their immediate household, tests positive for COVID-19, will they be required to share this information with the school?
A: Yes. Families should contact the school.

Q: Will families be notified if there is a positive case in the district, in a school, or within a pod?
A: Families will be notified if their child has been identified as exposed.

Q: What will the protocol be for a suspected case of a teacher/staff/student as that individual awaits test results? Will people be required to report that they have been tested because of symptoms - teachers, staff, students?
A: All people who are ill and suspected to be ill should remain home.

Q: Will there be a change in protocol when a child feels ill or develops a fever during the school day while they await parent pick-up?
A: The health rooms have been restructured and procedures have been adjusted to meet the safety requirements of COVID-19.

Q: If my child's classroom is required to quarantine at home, do the siblings in other classes or schools have to also quarantine?
A: Currently, classrooms will not be quarantined for a school-related COVID-19 illness.

Q: Can I access the meals for students while quarantined?
A: Yes, there are meal pickups at North and the MFHS from 11 a.m. -1 p.m Monday through Thursday (Thursday will distribute a Friday meal as well). With questions please call 262-250-6461 or visit the school nutrition.

Q: How do you plan to support a child who has lung and respiratory issue that make it impossible for her to wear a mask?
A: Health care plans are developed with the district nurses for individual student needs with diagnosed medical concerns.

Q: Many students are sent to school when they are sick, who is monitoring this?
A: All families are asked to keep their children home when then are sick.

Q: Where can I find information about the health metrics in the community the school is using to base its decision on fall learning?
A: Click here to view our health metrics dashboard. Information on this page is collected from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The District dashboard will be updated every Wednesday. We do anticipate have to fluctuate between the instructional models as the metrics fluctuate.

Q: Is there a specific percentage of community spread that we will need to be at to go from in person to hybrid or virtual?
A: We will use three sources county metrics, local metrics, absence rates to help guide our decisions. If we used a specific cut score we would be at risk of have frequent shifts which would be unmanageable for staff and families.

Q: Will students, staff and visitors be required to wear masks?
A: Masks will be recommended, not required.

Q: What if a student needs a mask break (due to a medical condition such as asthma flair up) but it is not a scheduled mask break?
A: Masks will be recommended, not required.Teachers will certainly work with students on a case to case basis when unexpected breaks may be needed. If your child has a care plan for a medical condition such as asthma, the care plan can be created as far as what they need when having a flare up t we will work to have them physically distanced during that time. The care plans should be developed with the doctor and the doctor can write recommendations as to when the mask should not be worn and how we can best meet their needs.

Q: Will masks be required on the bus?
A: The Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidance states that masks be required for all students and drivers on the school bus. If a student does not have a mask, the bus drivers will be able to provide one to the student. If a student does not comply with this policy, the driver will report the student to the school for follow-up discussion.

Please click here for the latest quarantine update from the CDC.

Q: If a student or staff member has had COVID-19 is there a quarantine consideration for their natural immunity?
A: Currently Waukesha Public Health provides an exemption for quarantine for 90 days from the positive test date. Students who have tested positive in the past 90 days do not need to quarantine.

Q: If a student tests positive for COVID-19, what will the procedure be for everyone that student has come in contact with?
A: The student will be sent home and parents will be notified if their child has been identified exposed.

Q: What will the protocol be for a suspected case of a teacher/staff/student as that individual awaits test results? Will people be required to report that they have been tested because of symptoms - teachers, staff, students?
A: All people who are ill and suspected to be ill should remain home.

Q: If my child's classroom is required to quarantine at home, do the siblings in other classes or schools have to also quarantine?
A: Currently, classrooms will be notified of exposure; siblings are not impacted.

Q: Will the students be eating lunch in their designated classrooms? Or will they have staggered lunch times in the lunch rooms? And what will be the sanitation/cleaning procedures in place between lunchtimes if they are?
A: Students will be eating in their designated cohorts. Prior to COVID-19, the standard operating procedure for sanitation/cleaning in the lunchroom was to sanitize every cafeteria table prior to lunch, in between each lunch period, and after the last lunch period. This standard operating procedure will remain in place along with additional sanitizing/cleaning in identified areas.

Q: I am aware that special education students will each have individual plans based on their needs if choice one is chosen. What if the plan offered for an IEP student isn’t feasible given the students needs? Will we have the option to move to virtual school instead at that time? Meaning before school actually starts and parent and IEP team can’t come to an agreement to best help the special needs student.
A: We plan to work with all families to discuss their child’s needs and how that will look in the current environment. We do recognize there may be a few situations which will warrant a shift. IEPs teams, which includes families, will be able to develop solid plans and make these just right decisions with families. Please reach out to your building principals. They can connect you with a case manager to begin this process.

Q: Will students be provided with Chromebooks for virtual learning?
A: All students grade 1 - 12 will receive a Chromebook. For students in 4K and Kindergarten, we are asking families to use their own technology if available - either a computer or Chromebook with webcam or iPad. If parents are in need of technology for their students, please contact your building principal.

Q: What do you suggest for families that struggled with multiple students/parents trying to be online at same time?
A: We recognize that this will be a continued challenge. We also know that our fully-virtual design will not hit the mark for all families. Some will want asynchronous for the challenges you described and some will want more synchronous access to teachers and peers. Our hope is that we can find a happy medium. Our technology team worked to find a smoother process for our teachers to record live-video conferences and post them in schoology. In the event that you have a high-traffic day or run into issues watching these at a later time could certainly be an option.

Q: Will volunteers be allowed to help in the classroom?
A: The building principals will make the determination of volunteer needs.

Q: Will parents be allowed to visit the classrooms during the school day?
A: The building principals will be making the decisions for each school.

To get more information about volunteer opportunities and to fill out our district online form, please visit
https://www.fallsschools.org/parents/volunteer-with-the-district