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Meeting Date:
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3/23/2023 - 5:30 PM
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Category:
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Report of the Committee on Accountability, Finance, and Personnel
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Type:
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Action
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Subject:
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4. Action on a Request to Discontinue the MPS COVID-19 Testing Program
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Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
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Goal 3 Effective and Efficient Operations
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Attachments
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File Attachment:
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Background:
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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.
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Fiscal Impact Statement:
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N/A
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Implementation and Assessment Plan
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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.
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Recommendation:
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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.
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Approvals:
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Recommended By:
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Signed By:
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Jacqueline M. Mann, Ph.D. - Board Clerk/Chief Officer
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