Agenda Item
Meeting Date:
3/23/2023 - 5:30 PM  
Category:
Report of the Committee on Accountability, Finance, and Personnel  
Type:
Action  
Subject:
4. Action on a Request to Discontinue the MPS COVID-19 Testing Program  
Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
Goal 3
Effective and Efficient Operations
 
Policy:
Admin Policy 6.01 - General Personnel Policies  
Attachments:
 
File Attachment:
 
Background:
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has offered COVID-19 testing support to all Wisconsin K-12 schools since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Testing support includes funding of COVID-19 test kits and on-site administration of COVID-19 tests. Milwaukee Public Schools is a participating district in DHS' COVID-19 K-12 School Testing Program. As part of the program, DHS covers the costs associated with the daily COVID-19 testing provided at MPS sites. This includes the costs associated with the twice weekly COVID-19 testing required of unvaccinated staff with accommodations pursuant to the district's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

On January 27, 2023, DHS announced that it will be ending its COVID-19 School Testing Program. April 30, 2023 will be the last day DHS will provide support to schools for COVID-19 testing. Any district that wishes to continue providing COVID-19 testing will have to cover all costs associated with COVID-19 testing after April 30, 2023.

In light of the current trends regarding COVID-19 hospitalization and death rates and the costs associated with continuing to provide COVID-19 testing at our sites, the Administration recommends that, effective May 1, 2023, the district no longer provide on-site COVID-19 testing to students and staff and discontinues the requirement that unvaccinated staff with accommodations be tested for COVID-19 twice a week.
 
Fiscal Impact Statement:
N/A  
Implementation and Assessment Plan:
Upon approval by the Board, effective May 1, 2023, the Administration will no longer provide on-site COVID-19 testing to students and staff and will no longer require unvaccinated staff with accommodations to be tested twice a week for COVID-19.  
Recommendation
Your Committee recommends that the Board approve ending on-site COVID-19 testing for students and staff and discontinuing the requirement that unvaccinated staff with accommodations be tested for COVID-19 twice a week, to be effective May 1, 2023.  
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Jacqueline M. Mann, Ph.D. - Board Clerk/Chief Officer