Face Covering Guidelines Effective June 6, 2021

Survey Results Help to Guide Changes in Face Covering Guidelines for the Lake Geneva Schools Effective June 6, 2021
Posted on 05/26/2021
Survey Results Help to Guide Changes in Face Covering Guidelines for the Lake Geneva Schools Effective June 6, 2021

As a result of community input and other health-related factors, face coverings will become optional for all students, staff, and visitors inside our schools and facilities effective Sunday, June 6, 2021. 


The change, which applies to all students and staff, is effective for all of the Lake Geneva Schools’ functions, activities and athletics including but not limited to: summer school, summer enrichment, and summer athletic camps. There are currently the following exceptions:

  • Face coverings continue to be required on school-sponsored transportation (school buses) per federal regulations.
  • When traveling for WIAA-sponsored athletics the host school's expectations must be followed along with WIAA expectations for the end-of-season tournament series.


This action is being taken as a result of the following positive pandemic changing conditions in our schools and community:

  1. New CDC guidelines allow all vaccinated individuals to not be required to wear face coverings inside or out
  2. Low community (Walworth County) rate of infection
  3. Overwhelming community support of optional face coverings (click here to view our survey results)
  4. Low rate of student infection in the Lake Geneva Schools
  5. Little evidence of student to student spread of the virus in the Lake Geneva Schools
  6. Success of other local school districts in easing face covering requirements without negative health impact
  7. Increase in student and adult vaccination rates
  8. Increased evidence that those vaccinated are safe from exposure and are highly not likely to spread the virus


Badger Summer School and Joint #1 Summer Enrichment will be our first student educational opportunities (both of which are optional for students to attend) to have the choice to wear face coverings. We are confident that this will go well as long as the current improving health and pandemic status continues in a positive direction. If all goes as anticipated, optional face covering wearing will continue during the 2021-2022 school year. That is the intent of the change made effective June 6, 2021. With that, if health issues arise in the community or our schools take a turn for the worse, health protocols may have to be reinstated.


It is important to remember that some students and staff will choose to continue wearing face coverings. Lake Geneva Schools asks that all students, staff, and families treat each other with respect regarding individual decisions to wear or not wear face coverings. We are committed to providing a safe, positive, productive, and healthy environment for all students and staff. 


As always, it is especially important that you keep your student home from school (or school activities) if they are ill. If your child is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, please keep your student home until you have an answer from your medical provider.


Thank you again for your ongoing support and understanding as we all continue to navigate through this unprecedented school year and optimistically get ready for a much more normal 2021-2022 school year.


Sincerely,

Dr. James Gottinger 
District Administrator


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