Dear MDU Family,
I am writing today with a proactive communication regarding the potential state-wide mask mandate repeal going before the Legislature on Thursday.
Regardless of the outcome, our business will continue to support a mask requirement (unless you have an exception) until further notice.
While it is true that we have had a negligible occurrence of COVID-19 in our programs since re-opening in June (.00025%, or 5 reportable cases out of over 20,000 heads in classes, and none for two months) Coulee Region public schools are in the process of welcoming their students back which introduces a new risk variable to our student population. Even if the mask mandated is repealed on Thursday, it would be unwise to introduce a second risk variable to our student population at the same time.
As a teacher and a dancer, I look forward to the day when this is no longer a talking point, but in the meantime, we will continue all of the Safer Studio™ measures that have brought us such success so far including keeping people home when they don't feel well, well checks for employees, ongoing facility cleaning with our Sparkle Squad, hand sanitation, and face coverings. Our community is turning the corner and we need to stay the course until we get there <3.
As always, we will continue to monitor the situation as we keep our focus on supporting the whole health of our students—including physical, social-emotional and, mental well-being—through dance classes each week.
Thank you for your support!
In partnership,
Misty Lown
Dear MDU Family,
As you are probably aware, our local schools have changed course from last week’s school board approved plans to open both “face-to-to face + virtual instruction” to opening “virtually only” for at least the first 30 days of fall.
Before I share our plans going forward, let me share this: I have sat in (virtually) on weekly planning meetings with the schools and the County since June. In that time I have witnessed nothing short of an amazing group of professionals working cooperatively and diligently to manage a challenging and continuously changing situation. The local schools, along with our county officials, had an impossible task and made impossible decisions. We support the decisions that have been made and we cheer on our local schools. We will also continue to attend weekly meetings and foster good communication with our friends in public education.
That said, we are going to stay on our path of gradually and responsibly opening services and learning to live in this new world.
A gradual and responsible opening has been our path since day one and we haven’t changed. When the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the Governor’s Safer-at-Home order we could’ve opened back at full capacity, but we didn’t. We stayed on our plan for a gradual and responsible opening.
And, we are staying with our plan for a gradual and responsible opening now. Because for as much as we identify with, and support, our colleagues in public education, we are different: