SDMA COVID Update - 4/14/2021

SDMA COVID Update - 4/14/2021
Posted on 04/14/2021

Dear SDMA Families and Staff,

The school board has approved a change to this year's school district calendar. With only one day of school canceled this year for inclement weather, and the SDMA staff needing some additional professional development/planning time at the end of this school year, the last day of school for students will be Thursday, June 3. This is one day earlier than what was originally published at the beginning of the school year.

COVID-19 activity has continued to increase a bit this past week across the country, state, and local community. It is important to understand that COVID-19 is still circulating in our community and can be easily spread if proper precautions are not observed. Studies have demonstrated that cases in schools are closely aligned with disease activity in the community, so please continue to be mindful of any gatherings, consider getting vaccinated, and do what you can to Wash Up, Mask Up, and Back Up, so our schools can have a successful end to the school year and get beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vaccine Eligibility: Everyone in Wisconsin age 16 and older is now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination. Currently, only the Pfizer vaccine is authorized for individuals 16-17 years old. Parents may wish to reach out to your family health provider and consider the Student Vaccination Guidance developed by the SDMA when considering a vaccination for your 16+ year old child.

Wisconsin COVID-19 Update
As previously noted, COVID-19 data trends have been inching up across the state. According to the Department of Health Services website, the 7-day average in Wisconsin for new cases is 823 today (up from 657 last week) and percent positivity is 3.8% today (up from 3.7% last week). 

Dunn County COVID-19 Data Update
According to Monday's update on the Dunn County Facebook page, disease activity across the county is "High" with 68 active cases in Dunn County and 2 people hospitalized due to COVID-19 (up from 55 and 4 last week). The COVID-19 vaccine series has been completed by 8,891 Dunn County residents- 19.6% of the county population (up from 7,769/17.1% last week). 

SDMA Student COVID-19 Data
Some of the newly reported confirmed COVID-19 cases in Dunn County over the past week have been students enrolled in the SDMA. With 2,833 students participating in the in-person instructional model, the SDMA currently has 5 active student cases- 0.18% [down from 12 active cases (0.42%) last week]. The breakdown of active student cases includes:

  • Menomonie High School-     4 (down from 6 last week) 
  • Menomonie Middle School-  1 (down from 2 last week) 
  • Menomonie Elem. Schools-  0 (down from 4 last week) 
  • Menomonie 4K-                     0 (same as 0 last week)

Student COVID-19 exclusions across the district have been pretty stable this past week. Today, 3.07% of the students in the SDMA were excluded from school due to close contacts, symptoms, or other COVID-19 concerns (up from 3.00% last week). The 7-day average for student exclusions across the SDMA is 3.39% (up from 3.33% last week). 

The current breakdown of SDMA student exclusions includes:

  • Menomonie High School-      3.84% (up from 2.74% last week)
  • Menomonie Middle School-   1.90% (down from 2.24% last week)
  • Wakanda Elementary-           3.79%  (up from 5.54% last week)
  • River Heights Elementary-    4.25%  (down from 5.10% last week)
  • Oaklawn Elementary-            1.26%  (up from 0.95% last week)
  • Knapp Elementary-                2.44%  (same as 2.44% last week)
  • Downsville Elementary-         0.00%  (down from 1.23% last week)
  • Menomonie 4K-                     4.24%  (up from 2.42% last week)

SDMA Staff COVID-19 Data
There has not been a reported case of COVID-19 by SDMA staff since the beginning of February, so there are still "0" active COVID-19 cases with SDMA staff. Today, 0.71% of the 565 district staff members were excluded from work for COVID-19 reasons (down from 0.88% last report). The 7-day average for staff exclusions across the SDMA is 0.78% (down from 0.96% last week). All SDMA faculty and staff members have had the opportunity to be vaccinated, and approximately 70% of SDMA employees have reported that they received the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Hopefully the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is already behind us, but it is important that we all stay vigilant for a little while longer. 

Sincerely,

Joe Zydowsky