The last few weeks have brought additional challenges to our District families and staff as everyone prepares to get students back to school on September 1. Our school closures in March were unprecedented, and our administrative team, staff, and families persevered through the difficulty of moving instruction to a remote learning environment.
We've provided a significant amount of information to OASD families over the last four months, via email, on our website, on the Updates from OHS blog, within virtual learning platforms, and on our social media pages. I'm sure this information has been overwhelming at times. Still, we will continue to provide an abundance of information so that our families and staff are informed of the District's work and the decision-making that affects all of you.
In light of the continued rise in cases of COVID-19 in our local municipalities and the July 30 Statewide face mask mandate, the OASD School Board met on Tuesday, August 4, to take action on a few important items for students to return to school this fall. At this August 4 special School Board workshop meeting, the School Board approved the following items:
- The traditional face-to-face student return to school will move to a face-to-face cohort model at the Elementary level and a face-to-face split attendance model at the Intermediate and High School levels.
- A face-covering requirement for OASD students once the WI Statewide face mask mandate expires.
Changes to the OASD Traditional Student Face-to-Face Learning Option
At their August 4 meeting, the OASD School Board approved changing the traditional face-to-face learning option to a face-to-face cohort model at the Elementary levels and a split attendance model at the Intermediate and High School levels. These models represent the District's highest degree of mitigation to reduce close social contacts while still providing an opportunity for students to learn in a face-to-face setting.
A medical advisory committee has been developed to provide guidance to the OASD School Board and administration during return to school planning and throughout the school year. This group of healthcare professionals will have access to local and District COVID-19 data. With the assistance of the medical advisory committee and the County Health department, the District will establish metrics to assist the Board in determining when a return to a full face-to-face environment is warranted.
The learning options that families can now select for their child to return to school in the fall are:
- Face-to-face cohort model for 4K- grade 4 at the Elementary level and face-to-face split attendance model at the Intermediate and High School levels.
- Ocon Virtual Learning Community, a fully online virtual learning option that families can select for grades 4K-12 instead of returning to the school environment.
- A physically distanced learning format for grades K-6 that provides more social distancing but requires additional parent support for students, and will be offered if there is enough interest per grade level.
More information on the learning level changes for the traditional face-to-face plan are available by clicking this link. OASD return to school plans and student learning options for 2020-21 can also be found at www.oasd.org/LearningHub.
Face Covering Requirement for Students
On July 30, 2020, the Governor of Wisconsin declared a Public Health Emergency and issued an Emergency Order requiring individuals to wear face coverings when indoors and not in their private residence. This order took effect on August 1 and is set to expire on September 28, 2020. This mandate includes staff and students attending the OASD.
The District's current plan requires all staff members to wear face coverings if they cannot maintain six feet of distance from each other and students. At their August 4 meeting, the OASD School Board approved a requirement for students to wear face coverings in schools and on school busses. Schools will develop plans and procedures to provide opportunities for "mask breaks" for students throughout the day. Also, students will not be required to wear masks outdoors or during periods of physical exertion in Physical Education, and during athletic practices and competition.
The District will provide a "Request for Accommodation" form for students who may have medical, mental health, developmental, or other sensory sensitivity that would prevent them from wearing a face covering.
Online Registration for the 2020-21 School Year
The deadline for online registration for the 2020-21 school year has been extended until Friday, August 7, so that families have more time to make final learning selections or make changes to that selection. If you already completed online registration but would like to switch the learning selection for your child, you can open online registration within your Skyward Family Access account and change your selection. Families that do not register by the August 9 deadline will be required to start the school year in the face-to-face cohort at the Elementary level or the split attendance models at the Intermediate and High School levels.
Online Registration information can also be found at www.oasd.org/SchoolRegistration.
Thank you for your support of the OASD as the District continues to finalize fall student return planning. These are unprecedented times, and our students, staff, and community's safety are our priority.