While WCRIS awaits a decision from the state Supreme Court on whether county and city health departments have legal jurisdiction to shutter our schools, Dane County pivoted just before Christmas from its lock-down order, citing new research on COVID transmission that would allow in-person classes.
Harvard research about COVID-19 transmission and in-person instruction was released at about the same time and has been widely cited by those advocating for a return to the school building.
The City of Racine issued a similar lock-down order late last year, which WCRIS is also challenging in court. It remains to be seen if Racine will follow Dane County’s lead on ratcheting back from its order.
Nonetheless, the court’s impending rulings promise to clarify whether local health departments have statutory authority — now or ever — to close private and public schools across the state.
The lawyers at the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) continue to pursue clarification on our behalf. Stay tuned to Current Events for developments.
