Health and safety is our top priority and we have strong procedures in our schools that align with public health guidance. Examples include maintaining physical distance (6-ft). wherever possible, wearing face coverings, hand washing protcols and enhanced cleaning procedures.  

See Board Policy 566 for more details. 

Students should stay home if they feel ill. All students must complete the Daily Home Symptom Screener before coming to school each day.

Report any positive COVID-19 tests in your household and/or required student quarantines/exposure as of January 4 and continuing through the end of the school year. Doing this will allow us to ensure that we are following the proper timelines for cases and exposures as more students begin in-person learning.  Please contact the OSD Attendance Line at 608-835-4000, Option #1 to report cases. You will be contacted by a school nurse with any questions.

Per PHMDC Order #8 all students and staff must wear cloth masks that cover both the mouth and nose at all times while in the building. Students and staff must have their masks on when they arrive at school. If you do not have access to a mask one will be provided at schools and on buses. 

Please ensure that your student has a mask that is two layers or more. Bandanas and fleece are not acceptable face coverings. Each school has masks available for students who need them. Visit the CDC Guide to Masks for more details on masks.

No. Students will not eat lunch or snacks during school.

When a case of COVID-19 is reported, we begin by having a conversation with the person who tested positive (or a parent/guardian if it is a student).  During that conversation we talk about when their symptoms started or when they tested positive if they aren’t showing symptoms. 

Next, we talk about who they may have had close contact with at school (we are required to notify any close contacts with the person who tested positive that occurred at school or on the school bus).   

Once we have identified close contacts from school, we call those people and let them know they may have been exposed to COVID-19. This does not mean that the close contact has COVID-19 or will get it; however, PHMDC advises that close contacts must self-quarantine for at least 14-days after the last contact with the person and continue to monitor themselves for symptoms. 

See Board Policy 565 for additional details.

A close contact is defined by the CDC and PHMDC as:

• Being within 6 feet of an infected person for a prolonged period (15 minutes or more) starting from 48 hours before illness onset (or if no symptoms, 48 hours before the date of the test).   
• Direct physical contact with a positive COVID-19 case (for example, a hug, kiss, or handshake);
• Contact with a positive COVID-19 case respiratory secretions (for example, coughed or sneezed on; contact with a dirty tissue; shared a drinking glass, food, towels, or other personal items; or
• Live with a positive COVID-19 case or stayed overnight for at least one night in a household with them.

When a case of COVID-19 occurs, we are required to notify any close contacts with the person who tested positive that occurred at school or on the school bus.

To be as transparent as possible while also providing relevant information to those who need it:

1. Close Contact Notification - If your child is identified to have been in close contact with an individual (student or staff member) who has tested positive for COVID-19, parents will be notified by the school nurse. If you do not receive this Close Contact Notification, your child has not been in close contact with the individual who has tested positive.
2. Classroom Notification - a classroom notification will be sent if there is a positive case in your student’s classroom and the individual was present in the classroom within the period as defined by the CDC and PHMDC (48 hours before illness onset - or if no symptoms, 48 hours before the date of the test). If the individual testing positive was not present during this time, a notification will not be sent to the classroom.   
3. School / Bus Notification - we will send a general notification when there is a positive COVID-19 case in your student’s school building or on their school bus. General school notification letters are posted on the Messages for Families portion of our website.
4. District Dashboard - we will publish an overall District data dashboard.The dashboard shows current active cases and is updated each Friday.  

We are working very hard to finalize Semester 2 assignments for teachers, AM/PM cohort, and OMS/OHS groups. Assignment letters will be sent to all families by Friday, January 8 at the latest.

Once students are assigned AM/PM cohorts (grades K-6) and days of in-person instruction (grades 7-12), bus routes will be finalized. Families requesting bus transportation will be contacted by their bus drivers with bus times the week of January 11.

There is both an option for full online instruction (Oregon Online) and an option for phasing into in-person learning (Oregon Phased Restart).

Our goal is to get all students back to school as soon as it is safe. We currently offer a full online model (Oregon Online) and a Phased Restart model, which will phase into in-person learning. The timing of phasing into in-person learning aligns with public health guidance.

It is not possible to offer 3 models simultaneously for two main reasons:

1. Safety:
   • We must abide by the physical distance order, which requires 6-feet of physical distance between individuals wherever possible.
   • Public health guidance currently allows for in-person instruction in grades 4K-2.
2. Resources: there are not enough staff to simultaneously support three instructional models. 

Support hubs are designed to offer assistance to students identified by administrators who have specific needs (e.g., internet access, technology support, a quiet environment, mental health support).  Hubs are designed to accommodate a very small number of students, who are spaced 6 feet apart, with one supervisor.

This is very different from offering an in-person model to a large number of students, which is not currently possible due to safety requirements (must maintain 6 ft. distance) and staffing resources.

Updated Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools Relates to OSD Phased Restart
On Monday, 12/14, Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) released updated guidance for K-12 schools. The guidance is based on growing scientific research and indicates that “schools can operate safety and effectively with strong infection-control measures in place.” PHMDC recommends that schools “use a phased approach, beginning with elementary schools first.” 

Emergency Order #11 Relates to Winter Sports
On Tuesday, 12/15, PHMDC issued Emergency Order #11. The order goes into effect today and will be in effect for 28 days. Different from PHMDC “guidance”, we are required to abide by the requirements of this order which allows us indoor gatherings of up to 10 people with physical distancing and face coverings. 

Therefore, adhering to the PHMDC order requirements and OSD health and safety protocols, OHS Winter Sports season practices will officially begin on January 4, 2021. Students registered for Winter Sports have been contacted by their coaches with practice and schedule details. 

The OSD Athletics Department is working with area athletic directors on a competition schedule to begin within Dane County when Emergency Order #11 is lifted (as early as January 13).

Per Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC), "Sports are a higher risk activity than a classroom learning setting. With sports, there is likely heavier breathing and less distancing, which increases the risk of COVID transmission." (Source: PHMDC School Recommendations). 

4K-2 students will continue with their current schedule. We will continue to follow health guidance and communicate any impacts to the schedule when they are available.

It is possible. Because staffing is dependent on the number of students who choose Oregon Online or Phased Restart, there may be changes to student cohorts and/or teachers, depending on the final numbers. 

Switching to a different educational model (Phased Restart to Oregon Online or vice versa) will likely result in a homeroom teacher change.

Students in grades 3-4 will follow the same schedule as K-2 students when they phase into in-person learning:

• Half-day sessions (7:50-10:30 AM or 12:10-2:50 PM) 
• Four days/week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday

Phased Restart In-Person AM Sample Schedule

Phased Restart In-Person PM Sample Schedule

There are two reasons: (1) health guidance currently has grade 6 in a different grade band than grades 3-5, and (2) beginning students in phases allows us to continue testing and adapting our safety-related processes and systems to accommodate more students.

• Students in K-2 will remain in their current AM/PM assignment.
• Students in Grades 3-5 shared preferences for AM/PM earlier this semester; those preferences will be used to make assignments.
• Students in Grade 6 will identify their AM/PM preference in the Semester 2 selection form. 
• If you are switching to Phased Restart from Oregon Online, there will be an option to express your AM/PM preference on the Semester 2 Selection form. 
• While we will make every effort to honor AM/PM requests, we cannot guarantee it because we must balance class sizes and cohort groups.

School will feel different from how it was before the pandemic. Health and safety measures will be in place, including wearing masks, maintaining 6-ft physical distance, and staying in assigned cohort groups throughout the day.

In most cases, students in quarantine will join virtual live sessions taught by their teacher.

Groups will be assigned based on alphabetical split and class schedules. Assignments will be shared after families have submitted Semester 2 Selection forms and we have a final count on Phased Restart vs. Oregon Online selections.

No. Static cohort assignments are not possible for grades 7-12 due to the schedules and variety of courses. However, safety measures, including wearing masks, maintaining 6-ft. physical distance, and cleaning protocols will be in place.

• New instruction for all students will be delivered asynchronously through video lectures, screencasts, slides, assignments, etc.
• Synchronous time for Phased Restart is in-person and resource focused:  teacher-guided practice, reteaching, answering questions,  projects, etc.
• Synchronous time for Oregon Online is virtual and resource focused: teacher-guided practice, reteaching, answering questions,  projects, etc.
• More focus on student-centered learning.

Live, interactive, face-to-face teaching will occur on in-person days in a variety of ways to help students most effectively master learning concepts. This is in addition to the teaching of new concepts via Google Classroom on their asynchronous days. 

Examples of in-person teaching will include, but is not limited to:

• Teaching of course material
• Discussion and analysis of key concepts
• Interactive learning activities; and
• Feedback directly to students

Group A Sample Schedule

Group B Sample Schedule

The teaching of new concepts will occur via Google Classroom and the following will occur during the afternoon synchronous times: 

• Teaching of course material
• Discussion and analysis of key concepts
• Interactive learning activities; and
• Feedback directly to students

Oregon Online Sample Schedule - Group C

In-person time will occure two days/week (Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday) from 8:35 AM - 12:30 PM).

Live, interactive, face-to-face teaching will occur on in-person days in a variety of ways to help students most effectively master learning concepts. This is in addition to the teaching of new concepts via Google Classroom on their asynchronous days. 

Examples of in-person teaching will include, but is not limited to:

• Teaching of course material
• Discussion and analysis of key concepts
• Interactive learning activities; and
• Feedback directly to students

Synchronous time with the teacher will occur two days/week from 1:00-3:45 PM and by appointment. 

The teaching of new concepts will occur via Google Classroom and the following will occur during the afternoon synchronous times: 

• Teaching of course material
• Discussion and analysis of key concepts
• Interactive learning activities; and
• Feedback directly to students

School will feel different from how it was before the pandemic. Health and safety measures will be in place, including wearing masks and maintaining 6-ft physical distance throughout the day.

Students will no longer receive new instruction synchronously; rather, new instruction for all students will be delivered asynchronously through video lectures, screencasts, slides, assignments, etc.

Students in quarantine will continue to receive instruction asynchronously through video lectures, screencasts, slides, assignments, etc. Quarantined students will be able to join Group C (Oregon Online) students for synchronous time with teachers during the afternoon scheduled times.

Information on vaccines is evolving; we will be monitoring this information and will continue to share information as it is available.

It is not possible to offer an in-person option for all students for two main reasons:

1. Safety: We must abide by the physical distance order, which requires 6-feet of physical distance between individuals wherever possible; most school buildings cannot physically accommodate this distancing measure.
2. Resources: where there is space to accommodate 6 feet of distancing, there are not enough staff to simultaneously support Oregon Online, Phased Restart, and a full in person model. 

We ask that you commit to either Oregon Online or Phased Restart for the entire second semester.

If guidance changes we will be in contact with you about any impacts to school plans.

We are planning to move forward with Phased Restart at the beginning of Semester 2 on January 19. The exact dates by grade level will be shared when they are determined.

Examples of factors that could interrupt in-person learning include transmission of the virus within our community, inability to staff due to illness / quarantine, and health guidance.

The purpose of the Working Group is to provide input that will inform decision making.  Example tasks include:

• Provide input related to existing health, safety, and communication protocols;
• Review OSD health data, including incidence of COVID-19 or other illness among staff and students, quarantines, resulting contact tracing and possible school and classroom re-openings and closures;
• Review census tract data related to the communities comprising the Oregon School District and how that compares to the rest of Dane County;
• Review data related to impact on student and staff mental health; and
• Review and assess related scientific research regarding COVID-19.

For more details visit the Medical Working Group page.