OSHKOSH (AP) — Oshkosh Area School District officials postponed a school board meeting after a group of protesters stormed the room and refused to wear masks.
The district implemented a mandatory mask policy on Monday.
A group of 20 to 30 people showed up at the school board meeting Wednesday to protest the policy. The group refused a police officer's order to don masks and an argument broke out with mask supporters in the audience.
District officials said if the group didn't wear masks they wouldn't hold a meeting. Board members walked out of the room and minutes later board President Bob Poeschel announced the meeting had been postponed.
Below is the full text of the letter Superintendent Dr. Bryan Davis shared with families:
August 26, 2021
Dear OASD Families,
Last night’s School Board meeting was postponed due to several disruptions from attendees,
including some who would not wear masks in the Board Room. The meeting will be rescheduled
in the near future. The District’s updates to its COVID-19 protocols remain in full effect,
including the requirement that all staff, students and visitors wear face coverings inside all
District buildings through October 1.
The August 25 school board meeting agenda highlighted the new protocol (“Face coverings are
required in all OASD buildings''). Prior to the meeting starting, attendees were asked multiple
times to put on masks and were offered masks from the school district. The agenda stated that
there would be 45 minutes for public comment (2 minutes per speaker), 12 people had signed
up to speak, and the Board was fully prepared to listen to public input on any agenda and
non-agenda items. Oshkosh police officers were present in the Board Room for the safety of all
in attendance.
After several attendees continued to refuse to wear a mask, the Board President Bob Poeschl
announced the meeting would be postponed. A new meeting date and time have not yet been
set, but I plan to meet with the Board President Thursday and the new meeting information will
be shared on our District website as soon as it is available.
I know that community members have differing opinions on masks, but we are committed to
using face coverings as one of our key mitigation measures to keep our staff and students safe
and learning in-person in our schools and classrooms. We want to provide in-person instruction
while protecting our families. I hope the community health data will improve and we can move
away from the face covering requirement after the first month in school.
If you have any questions or concerns on our Covid-19 protocols, please reach out to Matthew
Kaemmerer, Director of Pupil Services at matthew.kaemmerer@oshkosh.k12.wi.us. I appreciate
your patience and understanding as we prepare to have a great school year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Bryan Davis
Superintendent of Schools - Oshkosh Area School District
