OSKHOSH (NBC 26) — To keep students learning in person amid rising community COVID-19 cases, the Oshkosh Area School District will require all students, staff and visitors to wear face coverings inside all district buildings from Monday, August 23 through Friday, October 1.
“The Oshkosh Area School District is committed to providing in-person instruction for our students for the 2021-22 school year in a healthy and safe environment,” Superintendent Bryan Davis said in a letter to families Friday.
“We are excited to have our students and teachers back in school, learning and collaborating in their classrooms. We also want to make sure everyone is safe as we see a rising number of positive cases, especially among our student population,” Davis said. “We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with our mitigation measures and safety protocols.”
Davis also released a video message about the new measures.
The Oshkosh Area School District will be providing in-person instruction for all PK-12th grade students and offering a 100% virtual environment through the OASD eAcademy.
Davis, Director of Pupil Services Matt Kaemmerer and other administrators said they continue to work closely with community members, principals, activities coordinators, Center for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatrics, the Winnebago County Health Department, health care professionals and area school districts. The OASD developed detailed COVID-19 mitigation and quarantine procedures that were shared with families and staff August 5.
COVID-19 cases in the OASD geographic boundary have risen since July. From June 30 to July 13 there was one case of COVID-19 in the under 18 age group. Since then the number of cases for each two-week period has climbed steadily. From August 4 to 17, 32 COVID-19 cases were reported.
UW-Oshkosh and the city of Oshkosh have instituted face covering mandates inside their buildings. The requirement from the city is set to expire Oct. 1.
