News

March 12, 2020

Dear Families:

Our number one priority continues to be the safety and well-being of our students and staff. 

In consultation with the Walworth County Health Department, district medical advisor, Dr. Roberta Wedl, school health services team (Fort HealthCare), and the District Leadership Team, our current plan is to keep schools open until spring break (through Friday, March 20). We will continue to assess the situation to determine if closure of the school district is necessary.  At this time, we are not aware of any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the area. 

All field trips and events involving non-Whitewater schools are cancelled starting Saturday, March 14.  We are trying to minimize the potential for the spread of the virus between districts and geographic areas. Of particular concern is the risk associated with traveling to areas that are identified high risk as well as having students and families from these areas traveling to our schools. At this time, after school practices and activities can continue. 

The District is planning for enhanced cleaning procedures utilizing a disinfectant recognized by the CDC to fight COVID-19 to help mitigate risks to students, staff, and community members who use our facilities. 

Students in Grades 6-12 with one-to-one devices should bring them home daily in case the timeline for school closure changes.

Families should be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19 and are encouraged to have their children stay home if symptoms are present:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html.  Students who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Families should notify their school if their children are sick and report symptoms to school staff.

If parents or guardians have medical concerns for the safety of their children, they are encouraged to make a family decision and inform schools if their child is not going to attend school. 

The District will monitor COVID-19 daily and keep families up to date of any changes to the school plan. In addition, we will continue to follow updates from the World Health Organization, CDC, Walworth County Health Department, School Health Services Team (Fort Healthcare), and our district medical advisor, Dr. Roberta Wedl.

Dr. Jim Shaw

District Administrator

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Estimadas Familias:

Nuestra prioridad número uno continúa siendo la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros estudiantes y personal.

En consulta con el Departamento de Salud del Condado de Walworth, la asesora médica del distrito, la Dra. Roberta Wedl, el Equipo de Servicios de Salud Escolar (Fort HealthCare) y el Equipo de Liderazgo del Distrito, nuestro plan actual es mantener las escuelas abiertas hasta las vacaciones de primavera (hasta el viernes 20 de marzo ) Continuaremos evaluando la situación para determinar si es necesario el cierre del distrito escolar. En este momento, no tenemos conocimiento de ningún caso confirmado de COVID-19 en el área.

Todas las excursiones y eventos que involucran escuelas que no son de Whitewater se cancelan a partir del sábado 14 de marzo. Estamos tratando de minimizar la posibilidad de propagación del virus entre distritos y áreas geográficas. De particular preocupación es el riesgo asociado con viajar a áreas que se identifican como de alto riesgo, así como tener estudiantes y familias de estas áreas que viajan a nuestras escuelas. En este momento, las prácticas y actividades después de la escuela pueden continuar.

El Distrito está planeando procedimientos de limpieza mejorados utilizando un desinfectante reconocido por el CDC para combatir COVID-19 para ayudar a mitigar los riesgos para los estudiantes, el personal y los miembros de la comunidad que usan nuestras instalaciones.

Los estudiantes en los grados 6-12 con dispositivos individuales deben traerlos a casa todos los días en caso de que cambie el plazo para el cierre de la escuela.

Las familias deben conocer los síntomas de COVID-19 y se les recomienda que sus hijos se queden en casa si hay síntomas presentes: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html. Se recomienda que los estudiantes que tienen síntomas de enfermedad respiratoria aguda se queden en casa y no vengan a trabajar hasta que estén libres de fiebre (100.4 ° F o más con un termómetro oral), signos de fiebre y cualquier otro síntoma durante al menos 24 horas. , sin el uso de medicamentos para reducir la fiebre u otros medicamentos para alterar los síntomas (por ejemplo, supresores de la tos). Las familias deben notificar a su escuela si sus hijos están enfermos e informar los síntomas al personal de la escuela.

Si los padres o tutores tienen inquietudes médicas por la seguridad de sus hijos, se los alienta a tomar una decisión familiar e informar a las escuelas si su hijo no asistirá a la escuela.

El Distrito supervisará COVID-19 diariamente y mantendrá a las familias al día de cualquier cambio en el plan escolar. Además, continuaremos siguiendo las actualizaciones de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, los CDC, el Departamento de Salud del Condado de Walworth, el Equipo de Servicios de Salud Escolar (Fort Healthcare) y la asesora médica de nuestro distrito, la Dra. Roberta Wedl.

Dr. Jim Shaw

Administrador de Distrito

Facebook Live COVID-19 question-and-answer session

Chancellor Dwight C. Watson and members of the senior leadership team hosted a Facebook Live COVID-19 question-and-answer session on Friday, March 13. You may view the archived Facebook Live event at https://www.facebook.com/uwwhitewater/ Click on videos and then select “University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s video.” Among the items that were discussed: Faculty are being offered training and templates for effective online teaching/learning, there are currently no plans to extend the semester or to cancel/postpone commencement, no refunds are being offered for students for residence hall/meal costs, students are not required to leave the residence halls, laptops are available for students who may not have computer access.

Important message regarding COVID-19 and Spring Break

Dear Warhawks,

The COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread and affect people in Wisconsin, the United States and the rest of the world. Today, Governor Tony Evers declared a public health emergency. This is a rapidly changing situation and we are working in consultation with our local, state and federal health partners to keep our community safe.

I want to emphasize that there are no confirmed cases of the virus on the Whitewater or Rock County campuses. That is why we are taking decisive action now to lessen the risk to our community as much as possible. Given the recent information that some of members of our community have traveled to high-risk locations – and out of an abundance of caution – we are taking the following actions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Spring Break

UW-Whitewater will begin Spring Break one week early on Saturday, March 14, and continue the break through Sunday, March 29. That means no classes (in person or online) will be held during this period, which will give our faculty and staff time to prepare for alternative delivery of classes after Spring Break.

Instruction

Beginning Monday, March 30, face-to-face instruction will be suspended, and the campus will move to alternative delivery of classes through at least Friday, April 17. A decision on when and whether in-person instruction will resume will be shared in early April. Students will receive additional information about this transition during Spring Break.

As long as students successfully complete courses, this change in delivery will not impact the path to graduation. Faculty and instructional staff are advised to continue to show flexibility to students around academic assignments, exams or other requirements.

Residence Halls

The residence halls are not closing and will remain open during Spring Break. We recognize that some students may be unable to return to their permanent residence for various reasons and will need to stay in their residence halls. Limited dining choices will be available. Check the Dining Services website for availability.

University Housing will provide additional guidance to students. Residence halls will remain available to these students where necessary, but we expect the majority of hall residents to return home, leaving the residence halls much emptier and making it easier for remaining students to maintain social distance.

Students who live on campus are asked to take essential belongings, academic materials, laptops and medications with them for Spring Break and not return to residence halls following Spring Break through at least April 17. We hope that students will return to their permanent residence and complete their coursework remotely.

Employees

Campus will remain open and all faculty and staff should continue their regular work schedules unless advised otherwise by their dean, director or supervisor. The university will continue daily operations, with some exceptions around travel and events, noted below. Faculty and instructional staff will receive information from the Provost’s Office about the transition to alternative delivery of instruction.

Student employees should consult with their supervisors regarding their hours.

Travel

All university-sponsored travel is cancelled through April 17, with limited exceptions from deans, vice chancellors and the athletic director. 

We strongly advise you to reconsider non-essential personal travel, including travel over Spring Break. Documented cases are growing rapidly both domestically and internationally. You may face a higher risk of infection, significant delays returning, and/or the requirement to self-isolate or self-quarantine upon your return, all of which could significantly impact your professional and personal obligations at great individual expense.

All campus community members should be aware that if you travel, you may be required to self-quarantine for 14 days depending on where you’re traveling to and from, even if you do not exhibit symptoms.

Events

All campus events are canceled beginning Saturday, March 14, through at least Friday, April 17, with limited exceptions from deans, vice chancellors and the athletic director.

Athletic events will be managed following current NCAA/WIAC guidance, which includes spectator-free events.

If you feel sick

If you develop symptoms, stay at home. If symptoms like fever, cough, or difficulty breathing are present, you are advised to contact your health care provider for advice.

Employees should not report to work if they are ill and should use sick leave or contact their supervisor or Human Resources.

Our responsibility to others

While students may not feel like COVID-19 will affect them if they are young or healthy, please remember that you are members of a larger community and could carry it to those with compromised immune systems or to older or higher-risk people. There is no vaccine or protection at this time. We ask everyone to consider the safety and health of our entire community.

The best steps you can take to keep yourself and others healthy include:

• Regularly wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
• If water isn’t available, then use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer needs to contain at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective.
• Refrain from shaking hands.
• If you cough or sneeze, do so into your elbow or a tissue.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• If you have a fever, please stay home.
• Social distancing: By maintaining a distance of six feet from others when possible, people may limit the spread of the virus.

Your questions and concerns

We know that there are additional questions and concerns that arise as the COVID-19 situation continues to quickly change. Please refer to our COVID-19 website for updates. You can submit questions by calling our COVID-19 hotline at 262-472-1362 or email Covid19info@uww.edu. The phoneline and email will be monitored during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

It is important that we act thoughtfully and responsibly during this time. Our actions will help keep everyone safe with minimal disruption to our university mission as students continue their studies. 

Our Warhawk family is strong, caring and resilient. I appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we navigate this situation. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 worldwide outbreak, and we will act and adapt our plans as appropriate.

Dr. Dwight C. Watson
Chancellor

The following announcement was issued on 3/11/20 by UW-W Marketing & Communications

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater was notified by the Walworth County Public Health Department on Wednesday, March 11, that New York state has been identified as a high-risk location for contracting COVID-19 or coronavirus, and that those who have visited the state of New York should voluntarily self-quarantine for 14 days to prevent the potential spread of the virus upon their return.

UW-Whitewater’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed at New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall on Tuesday evening and the group of 55 people will arrive back on campus today. We are asking that all those on the trip comply with the Walworth County Public Health Department’s suggestion to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Students will be picked up by family members and taken home for the self-quarantine period of time. One student needs housing for three days and that will be provided by the university in an already-established quarantine room. UW-Whitewater will provide for their care.

The faculty who went on that trip will also self-quarantine in their homes. We will be following up with information on continuing the students’ studies.

The health and safety of our campus community is our primary concern and we appreciate the effort and cooperation of our students, faculty and their families in this important matter.

En Fuego Ballet has opened its studio downtown at 174 W. Main Street, offering adult and children’s ballet classes. Adult beginner classes are Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturday. Participants need no prior dance experience, as in the beginning the focus will be on flexibility. The class is designed to slowly introduce the forms of ballet and barre at the pace of the individual. For children’s classes, there is the opportunity to learn the basics of ballet positions and terms. For beginning classes students will learn simple moves as they begin to advance further into ballet. Ballet II will not be offered until 2021. There is an option to learn tap as well.

The studio also offers Fuego Fusion, a free community dance class on the last Friday of every month.

Jessica Solis Cano, owner of En Fuego, has been dancing for 20 years and went to UW-W for dancing. She said that she is excited to “offer the opportunity for others to learn to dance.” A goal for the company is to be in the Fourth of July parade.

What does “en fuego” mean? Loose translation from Spanish: “on fire” or “performing extremely well.” For their website please click here.

(Portions of this article were reprinted from the Royal Purple of March 9, as the Banner had not received a reply to its inquiry of En Fuego.)

They say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But what if it is?

Then, drop in at the Repair Café at Wisconsin Makers in Whitewater.

The regional makerspace is kicking off its monthly Repair Café Saturday, March 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteer makers will be on hand to fix or help attendees fix broken household items they bring with them.

“Everyone has some broken ‘treasures’ sitting around the house,” said maker Pete Spangler. “This is the perfect place for ‘do-it-yourself geeks’ to finally get them repaired.”

Wisconsin Makers has the hardware and other materials to make basic repairs, although there might be repair parts that will need to be ordered.

The workshop is free of charge, while donations to the nonprofit makerspace are accepted.

While not required, registration is appreciated. Attendees may share their name and what they have to repair on the Whitewater Makers’ Meetup.com website, or on Facebook at facebook.com/WisconsinMakers/Events tab. Persons also may call or text (262) 753-6243.

Located at 200 E. Clay St. in Whitewater, Wisconsin Makers is a community workshop that serves Jefferson, Rock and Walworth counties and beyond.

The Repair Café was started in 2008 in Amsterdam, and since 2011, it has provided professional support to 1,588 groups worldwide, including 88 in the United States.

“Wisconsin Makers is not yet listed on the Repair Café world website; however, we are the first repair café in the State of Wisconsin,” Spangler said.

He noted that “volunteer fixers” have an average repairable rate of 70 percent when it comes to working on everything from lamps and vacuums to blenders and bicycles.

“Home repairs not only save money, but keep trash out of landfills,” Spangler pointed out. “And then there is the feeling of accomplishment when you repair something yourself.”

People who have nothing of their own to repair are encouraged to stop in to chat or even lend a hand on someone else’s repair job.

Spangler noted that coincidentally, this Saturday is “Pi Day,” the international celebration of mathematics and the Greek symbol representing a constant, making it a particularly good day to learn how to be a “DIY geek.”

“We encourage all interested people from throughout the area to stop in,” he said.

Future Repair Cafés are scheduled at Wisconsin Makers for two Saturdays, April 22 and May 5.

COVID-19 update

Dear Warhawks,

The situation regarding COVID-19 or coronavirus is rapidly changing. Several UW System campuses are extending their Spring Break by a week, and may move to alternative course delivery. UW-Whitewater leadership is assessing the situation and will communicate regarding our campus Spring Break (March 23-27) and what follows as soon as possible.

I strongly encourage everyone to reconsider their travel plans during Spring Break. The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States has grown significantly and continues to change daily. Cases internationally are also expanding. We need to be aware of the potential risks to health and safety, and canceling travel may be the most prudent step.

I am asking all students to take home with them all of their instructional materials, medications, laptops and other necessary personal items when they leave for Spring Break.  This is a quickly changing situation and we need students to have necessary materials with them if campus moves to alternative instruction.

Students who live on campus and are unable to return home will receive support from University Housing staff and Student Affairs staff.

Again, no decisions have been made as of yet, but we need you all to be prepared.

For faculty and staff, regardless of the mode of course delivery, UW-Whitewater will remain open and employees will continue to report to work as scheduled, unless ill.

These steps are about preparedness and not panic. This is important. We don’t want our community to feel additional stress at an already stressful time of the year. Yet, we must be prepared. The risk rate in Wisconsin remains low at this time.

Please rest assured that the leadership at UW-Whitewater is not only watching the situation closely, but also working to make sure that our emergency plans are in place.  Campus leaders have been meeting regularly since mid-January regarding COVID-19. Here is the link to the campus’s COVID-19 website: https://www.uww.edu/uhcs/covid19. There are links to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with other helpful sites.

A UW-Whitewater COVID-19 call-in line will also be launched on Thursday, March 12. We will send out the number once the line is live.

We will hold a COVID-19 listening session from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in the Old Main Ballroom of the University Center. University Health and Counseling Services and emergency response team members will be available to discuss questions and concerns. I encourage you to attend. The listening session will also be live streamed on the campus Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/uwwhitewater/.

What can you do to help?

• The best thing that you can do to keep yourself and others healthy is to regularly wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
• If water isn’t available, then use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer needs to contain at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective.
• Refrain from shaking hands.
• If you cough or sneeze, do so into your elbow or a tissue.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• If you have a fever, please stay home.

Again, I encourage all to be mindful of the risks associated with travel during the Spring Break period and seriously think about canceling those plans. I have canceled my Spring Break trip to Florida as a precautionary measure and so that I can be on campus during this critical time.  We will continue to keep our campus community updated as necessary.

Sincerely,
Dr. Dwight C. Watson
Chancellor

As of March 10 there have been three confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wisconsin. Although no one has been diagnosed in Jefferson, Rock or Walworth counties, it is anticipated that we will not be able to avoid having infections in our community in the coming weeks/months.

Aaron Raap, Whitewater Chief of Police, indicated to the Banner that his department’s preparations for an outbreak of coronavirus include the following:

• For the past two weeks or so, I have been disseminating “best practices/guidelines” for emergency services workers with our police and fire departments.  I’ve received these from different sources – including the Walworth County and the Jefferson County health departments.
• In the event of a significant WPD employee quarantine, I would immediately request mutual aid from both of our county sheriff’s departments.

Sara Kuhl, UW-W Assistant Vice Chancellor, University Marketing and Communications, provided the following information to the Banner:

• Campus leaders have been meeting regularly since mid-January regarding COVID-19 and we have our emergency management protocols for these sorts of situations.
• We are also working closing with the county and state health departments and following recommendations from the CDC.
• We will launch a new website in the next few days that we hope will also answer questions. 

The Banner is scrupulous in respecting the copyrights of other publications, but the following column from the New York Times is the best summary of coronavirus prevention advice that we’ve seen, and we trust that our reprinting of it would be seen to be understandable in the public interest. From the New York Times, March 10, 2020 By David Leonhardt Opinion Columnist 7 Steps to Take Against the Coronavirus

More than 700 cases of coronavirus have been detected in the United States, and the true number is surelymuch higher, given the lack of testing so far.

Fewer than 4,400 Americans had been tested as of yesterday, according to The Atlantic. In South Korea, by comparison, the government has tested almost 200,000 people: “Authorities in the city of Goyang even setup drive-thru testing booths,” CNN reported.

With so little guidance on what to do, Americans are left to decide for themselves about how to respond. Below are seven pieces of advice that my colleague Ian Prasad Philbrick and I have compiled. (If you think our list is missing anything, email me at leonhardt@nytimes.com, and we’ll update the list in a future newsletter.)

1. Wash your hands. Hand washing works. Even if people come into contact with the virus, they can avoid becoming infected by washing their hands before touching their face. But do it right. “Hands should be scrubbed for at least 20 seconds, the time it takes to sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice, to ensure germs won’t be transferred to objects or spread from person to person,” Liz Mineo of The Harvard Gazette writes. Hand sanitizers help too, but soap is usually more reliable.

2. Try to touch your face less. It’s virtually impossible not to touch your face, I realize. I’ve been trying. But you can touch it less often. Be aware of when you’ve just touched surfaces that might infect you (like doorknobs in busy places) and don’t touch your face until you’ve washed your hands. There are strategies — like keeping tissues handy and keeping your hands busy, as Jenny Gross of The Times writes — for touching your face less.

3. Keep your distance. It’s not easy, but try to stay at least six feet away from other people when you’re at work or in public. And don’t shake hands. Your hands are brutally efficient disease vectors. When family members came over to my house this weekend, they greeted us with a little bow. It was a nice touch — a small welcoming ritual that reduced the awkwardness of saying hello without a hug or handshake.

4. Be more aggressive about staying home if you feel sick. You probably don’t have coronavirus (though, of course, you can’t be sure), but you could spread your cold and make it more severe. The Washington Post’s Marisa Iati explains: “If everyone with a cold floods their local emergency rooms, it will be harder for health care workers to treat patients who are critically ill. Plus, you could pick up the virus in the hospital if you don’t already have it.”

5. Don’t stockpile masks. They’re needed for hospital workers and other caregivers. “Masks are only useful if you have a respiratory infection already and want to minimize the risk of spread to others, or if you’re caring for someone who is sick or working in a hospital in direct contact with people who have respiratory illnesses,” writes Julia Belluz of Vox.

6. Do stock up on food and medicine. While there’s no need to make a run on toilet paper or stockpile a year’s worth of canned food, experts recommend having enough supplies on hand for at least 14 days — the recommended length of a quarantine.

A good shopping list: Canned, dry or frozen foods; beverages; vitamins and cold medicine; and any prescription medications you normally take, as Mike Snider and Veronica Bravo of USA Today write.

7. Check in with friends and family. “At the top of every checklist for prepping for shutdowns or self quarantine should be checking in with people less able to prep. Give your number to someone nearby who might not have anyone to help out, or even talk to, if they end up alone,” tweeted The Atlantic’s James Hamblin. Coronavirus is particularly dangerous for people over the age of 70. They should be aggressive about all of the measures here — and, if you’re younger, you should think about how to help.

Milwaukee Street is now closed to thru traffic from Rice Street to the roundabout.  The contractor will be finishing the sanitary sewer and storm sewer work in this section.  After the underground work is completed, crews will complete the remaining concrete pavement, curb and gutter, drive approaches and sidewalk, street signs, pavement markings and restoration. 

After the underground work is completed between Rice Street and the roundabout, the contractor will resume work on Elkhorn Road from the roundabout to Highway 12.  Work in this section includes storm sewer, milling and overlaying of asphalt pavement, concrete pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalks, street signs, pavement markings and restoration.  Elkhorn Road will be closed to thru traffic.  Access will be permitted for local businesses and property owners. 

The roundabout will remain open to traffic during construction.

All work is scheduled to be completed by July 21, 2020. 

Bradley J. Marquardt, P.E.

Public Works Director                              

The monthly Whitewater Observatory Lecture series resumes starting this Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. with a series of talks about black holes across the Universe: “Black Holes Are Everywhere!”  Come learn about the black holes lurking in the center of galaxies (March), black holes merging together in a death spiral that creates a burst of gravitational waves (April), and all of the ways in which one can  “feed” a black hole (May).

Fri, Mar 13 @ 7:30 p.m. (Upham Hall, Room 140) 
Prof. Bob Benjamin (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) 
“What Lurks in the Hearts of Galaxies” 
NO observations following this lecture.