Milwaukeeans Demand Immediate Government Action So MPS Can Reopen Schools Safely

Milwaukee City and County officials, the Governor and state legislators, the Department of Health Services, and the Department of Public Instruction

We (Coalition Statement) call on our Milwaukee City and County officials, the Governor and state legislators, the Department of Health Services, and the Department of Public Instruction to take immediate, bold action to gain control of this disaster and defend our communities which our public schools are part of.

Our State, County, and City governments must act immediately to control and prevent community spread of the COVID-19 virus that disproportionately affects our Black, Brown, and low-income communities. The public good must be valued over profits.

  • Milwaukee must move back Phase 2 of the Moving Milwaukee Forward Plan and reimplement public health measures that were controlling the community spread of COVID-19 and close restaurants and bars, limit gatherings, etc. If the crisis continues to worsen, Milwaukee should implement a shelter at home order.
  • Community spread of the virus must be stopped. MPS’ eventual safe reopening is dependent on a societal response.
    • Expand free testing by the State, County and City which is accessible to all Milwaukee communities (both number of tests and testing locations), especially for low-income and Black and Brown communities that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
    • The City of Milwaukee Health Department must expand contact tracing so that it is sufficient to trace and isolate individuals who are exposed to COVID.
    • We must see 21 consecutive days of a downward trajectory of documented cases, hospitalizations, and positivity rates (near zero incidence) in Milwaukee County.
    • There must be consistent monitoring of the reproductive rate of COVID-19 to ensure that the rate does not rise above 1 (anything more than 1 demonstrates community spread). Currently, the estimated rate is 1.37 in Milwaukee County.
    • Exact gating criteria with objective metrics and timelines should be established to move to in-person schooling to ensure that students, staff, and families have clear expectations.
  • Public health officials must provide clear, specific, and consistent guidance to Public Schools and other employers so that they can prepare for any eventual physical return. This guidance should be available to employees and in multiple languages.
  • MPS must establish a specific plan for symptom checks and COVID-19 testing MPS staff, students, and families. City, County and State should assist with resources to accomplish an MPS testing plan.


To: Milwaukee City and County officials, the Governor and state legislators, the Department of Health Services, and the Department of Public Instruction
From: [Your Name]

We call on you to take immediate, bold action to gain control of this disaster and defend our communities which our public schools are part of.

Our State, County, and City governments must act immediately to control and prevent community spread of the COVID-19 virus that disproportionately affects our Black, Brown, and low-income communities. The public good must be valued over profits.

Milwaukee must move back Phase 2 of the Moving Milwaukee Forward Plan and reimplement public health measures that were controlling the community spread of COVID-19 and close restaurants and bars, limit gatherings, etc. If the crisis continues to worsen, Milwaukee should implement a shelter at home order.
Community spread of the virus must be stopped. MPS’ eventual safe reopening is dependent on a societal response.

• Expand free testing by the State, County and City which is accessible to all Milwaukee communities (both number of tests and testing locations), especially for low-income and Black and Brown communities that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

• The City of Milwaukee Health Department must expand contact tracing so that it is sufficient to trace and isolate individuals who are exposed to COVID.

• We must see 21 consecutive days of a downward trajectory of documented cases, hospitalizations, and positivity rates (near zero incidence) in Milwaukee County.

• There must be consistent monitoring of the reproductive rate of COVID-19 to ensure that the rate does not rise above 1 (anything more than 1 demonstrates community spread). Currently, the estimated rate is 1.37 in Milwaukee County.

• Exact gating criteria with objective metrics and timelines should be established to move to in-person schooling to ensure that students, staff, and families have clear expectations.

Public health officials must provide clear, specific, and consistent guidance to Public Schools and other employers so that they can prepare for any eventual physical return. This guidance should be available to employees and in multiple languages.

MPS must establish a specific plan for symptom checks and COVID-19 testing MPS staff, students, and families. City, County and State should assist with resources to accomplish an MPS testing plan.