MONDAY 11/9/2020 8:18 a.m.

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – Oshkosh schools won’t transition to hybrid learning as they originally announced last week.

The Oshkosh Area School District says they have “made the difficult decision to remain in Model 4: Virtual Learning until at least January 11, 2021.”

Students in Oshkosh were scheduled to return to hybrid learning on November 12.

“Key factors in our decision to remain virtual include:

• The significant increase in the daily rate of COVID-19 cases, along with multiple daily record-setting positive cases in Wisconsin since November 3.
• A shift in trends, including our county’s positivity rate, our local community’s burden rate, and data specific to OASD students and staff.
• The impact of expected holiday travel on the spread of COVID-19.
• Feedback related to the importance of consistency in learning models and schedules, and the impact both have on student learning and overall well-being.”

Original Story: Oshkosh schools to transition to hybrid learning next week

TUESDAY 11/3/2020 1:51 p.m.

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – Students in the Oshkosh Area School District will transition to hybrid learning next week.

According to a letter shared with families, the district is prepared to move into Model 3: Hybrid Learning effective Thursday, Nov. 12.

The planned transition is district-wide to all grades, by individual classes, grades, and/or schools may be unable to return to hybrid learning due to COVID-19 positive cases and quarantine periods, including staff quarantine periods.

The Oshkosh Area School District says all decisions were made with consultation from the Winnebago County Health Department “and with the commitment that we will follow our
safety protocols.”

“If the Department advised that it was not safe for us to resume hybrid learning, we would not be taking this approach.”

The Oshkosh Area School District says it will have a scheduled return to Model 4: Virtual Learning for the weeks of Nov. 30 through Dec. 4. and Jan. 4-8.

“This planned temporary return to virtual learning is meant to help mitigate a possible increase in COVID-19 spread as a result of the impact of holiday travel and increased social interactions in the community,” the district says. “The decision to transition at this time is based on the latest data available, specifically a two-week downward data trend, as well as staff quarantine levels, internal contact tracing ability, testing ability, and substitute availability.”

Officials say OASD has access to COVID-19 data for students, expanded contact tracing process, increased testing capacity for staff, and an increase in its ability to staff schools amid required staff quarantine periods.

Over the latest two week window of Oct. 15-29, 20 students across the district have been reported to health officials as testing positive for COVID-19.