Coronavirus (COVID-19) ~ Information and Updates

Dear Parent/Guardian,

A positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed within our middle school community. 

The students and staff who interacted closely with the individual within the school district have been contacted.  The individual who has tested positive will be excluded from school until they have been determined to be no longer infectious.  Close contacts, determined by district staff, have been excluded from school for 14 days from their last date of exposure to the positive individual and will be monitored for symptoms.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a virus that is spread even before individuals show symptoms. It spreads from person to person through droplets created when we cough, sneeze, talk, sing or laugh. Thus, it is ever important for all students, family members, and staff members to closely watch for symptoms that are outside of their “normal,” and to stay home if they are ill. If symptoms occur, please contact your medical provider to request testing.

Please remember to slow the spread of COVID-19:

1. Stay home when ill.
2. Wear a face covering when in public if physically able.
3. Wash hands frequently with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable.
4. Clean frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, tables, etc.
5. Limit unnecessary travel, events, or large gatherings.

We all need to continue to do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19, and to keep our students and staff members safe. 

Thank you,   

Mark Luebker and Rachael Robinson
Superintendent and School Nurse   

Governor Evers - Emergency Order #12  Safer at Home

Distribution List

Good Afternoon,

Thank you so much for your flexibility and patience as we navigate through this new territory.  

The plan moving forward:

• Per Governor Evers order yesterday, all public schools shall remain closed for the duration of the public health emergency or until a subsequent order lifts this specific restriction. This means our buildings will remain closed to everyone except essential staff indefinitely and until we are told they can reopen. April 6 is no longer our reopen date.  

• The District Office will be open from 9:00-2:00pm, Monday-Friday during the extended closure, for essential limited and essential business purposes.

• All events PK-12 are canceled indefinitely. High school prom is postponed. 

• If you would like the free meal delivery (As long as you have one student attending our district, any unenrolled children can be included) you can still sign up, but it may take a day for the delivery to start. Here is the link to the form. The address/time list for delivery tomorrow is linked here.  This schedule can be found on the webpage and will be updated as more people request this service. 

• If you are looking for child care, please respond to this email and we can send you the spreadsheet of the high school students who have signed up so you can coordinate directly with them. This list has not been vetted or background checked. Please be sure you are doing your due diligence when you consider hiring any of these students.

• Athletic fees that have been paid for spring sports will be kept on the student’s account until we receive an official update from WIAA on the spring season.  

Preparing to move education outside of traditional physical classrooms in response to COVID19 requires thought, coordination and careful decision-making. Here is why Osceola is not sending devices home with students at this time. 

• Equity: Not all families have internet access available at home or may have limited data plans. Here is a survey that we would like completed by ALL families by Friday, March 20 so we can identify exactly what our families would need if we were to have more online learning options in the future. 

• Safety:  The school devices don’t have filtering available offsite. The Children’s Internet Protection Act, a federal law enacted in 2000, states that students need to have a content filter and Internet Safety Policy in place when using district provided devices in order for the district to be eligible for E-rate funding for internet access. Also, the devices we provide are laptops which allow for downloading. The likelihood of computer viruses being downloaded off site increases and when the devices return to the school district our network would be at risk. We are currently working to implement an off-site online safety plan.

• High quality instruction: Teaching online is very different than delivering and supporting learning in person. Our teachers will need professional development and support before high quality instruction can take place virtually. 

• Logistics: Currently all of our devices are charged on carts with built-in charging cords.  This means we would have to dismantle carts in order for students to have charging cords. Yes, it can be done but it is not a quick and easy process. 

Again, your patience during this tumultuous time is deeply appreciated. Together our community can get through this!  

Respectfully,

Mark 

Please be sure to complete this technology survey by March 20. 

Skylert Email to Families

Good Evening, 

Based on updates from national, state, and local sources and in an effort to be as responsive as we can to the Covid 19 situation, Tuesday, March 17th will be our last day of school until April 6th. There will no longer be school on Wednesday, March 18th.

Tuesday, March 17th, students will have a full day of learning, will get their extended closure learning materials and will be bringing home the items in their lockers and cubbies. Please send additional bags with your student.

Those who are not attending on Tuesday will need to pick up their student’s belongings and their extended learning materials. On Tuesday, from 3:30-6:00, or Wednesday, between 6:00am-noon, buildings will be open. Staff will not be available to help gather your student’s items; all items will be located on tables in the commons areas.  

Each building principal will be sending out emails tomorrow with more information.  

Thanks for your continued flexibility as we work through this very fluid situation.   

Mark Luebker 

March 15, 2020

Dear Osceola Families, 

As you are aware, school districts across the state were informed that Governor Evers has ordered all public and private schools to be closed beginning at 5:00 pm Wednesday, March 18 through April 5. To continue to support our students, we believe it is extremely important to offer breakfast and lunch to students during this extended school closure. We will be providing an option for free breakfast and lunch to be delivered to all students based on our school bus routes Monday through Friday. Both meals and the delivery service are provided at no cost to you for all children 18 and under based on a Federal waiver for COVID-19.  Because this is a federal program and waiver, at least one member of the household needs to be enrolled in the District. 

Thursday, March 19- Food Delivery will begin

• Deliveries will be dropped off at your assigned bus stops between 11:00 am - 1:00 pm.

  • Someone must be available to pick up distributed meals at assigned bus stops. 

  • If you have opted out of bus transportation you are still eligible for this service. 

• The delivery will include lunch for the current day and breakfast for the following day.

• In order for us to order and prepare, you must fill out this SURVEY by Monday at noon to ensure meals on Thursday. 

• If you are open enrolled please enter your student’s name and contact the transportation director, Steve Leslie 715-294-3456  to determine where you can meet the bus to get the meals. 

• If your child presently walks to school they may pick up their meals from the elementary school parking lot.  Times will be communicated later. 

• If you miss the deadline but still want meals, please contact Susan Mayer directly to be added to the list. Susan Mayer: mayers@osceolak12.org or 715-294-4604.

Thank you for your time and patience,

Susan Mayer

Food Service Director

March 14, 2020

Dear Osceola Families,

Last evening, school districts across the state were informed that Governor Evers has ordered all public and private schools to be closed beginning at 5:00 pm Wednesday, March 18 and will reopen on Monday, April 6. Being this type of closure is new territory for our district there are still many unanswered questions, but we wanted to get communication out to you so you could plan. 

Monday, March 16

• School will be closed for all students so staff can properly prepare for this extended closure. We take the mission of educating every student in the classroom very seriously and know that learning at home will not replicate the experience of learning within the classroom. Every student will get home learning resources and activities to support learning, but new learning will need to wait until school resumes so the students get the appropriate learning support they need. At-home learning in such a “rushed” situation just cannot replicate the classroom experience.

• Kids Klub will be closed. 

• The building will be available for school-specific athletics and extracurricular activities.

Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18

• School will be in session for all students so they can receive instruction and prepare for this extended closure.

• Kids Klub will be open Tuesday and Wednesday (closing at 5:00 pm on Wednesday).

• The buildings will be available for school-specific athletics and extracurricular activities until 5:00 pm on Wednesday.

Also, we are working diligently to get food service set up for our students. To best support our students, we believe it is extremely important to offer breakfast and lunch to students during this extended school closure. As we work out the details, more specific information will come via email.

At this time, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the School District of Osceola, the Osceola community, nor Polk County. You can get additional information about coronavirus from the following websites:
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)  WI Department of Health Services  Polk County Health Department.

At the time of this communication, we recognize there are many unanswered questions. The purpose of this letter is to provide a template of the District plan moving forward so you are able to plan accordingly. We also want to stress how fluid and incredibly unique this situation is and we will continue to communicate with everyone as we receive updated information.

Respectfully,
School District of Osceola Leadership Team 

Good afternoon,

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has recommended all non-essential large group gatherings be postponed or canceled.  Based on these recommendations the following events have been canceled/postponed at this point:  

• 3rd grade Wax Museum- Friday, March 13
• High School Variety Show- Friday, March 13

• High School District Forensic Competition- Saturday, March 14

• Peewee Basketball Camp- Saturday, March 14

• All community ed events (Friday, Saturday, & Sunday)

• The Aquatic Center will be closed (Friday & Saturday)
  
  We will communicate updated information regarding future events as we continue to collaborate with the county and state health departments.  This COVID-19 situation is constantly evolving and we appreciate your patience.

Respectfully,

Mark Luebker

Superintendent 

Dear Families,

Under the guidance of state, county and federal officials it has been determined that our buildings are safe to reopen tomorrow March 11, 2020. 

Based on guidance from the CDC, state health department, and The Polk County Health Department, students, parents and staff who participated in the Destination Imagination event are considered to be low risk for COVID-19. This assessment is based on the symptoms the individual experienced at the time and the activities the individual engaged in while at the event. The individual was not coughing at the event, nor did the individual have any prolonged conversations with anyone but the individual’s family.

Below is the message that has been approved by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Polk County Health Department for The School District of Osceola. 

Students, staff, and parents who attended the DI event on March 7, 2020 are considered to be at low-risk for exposure to the COVID-19 virus.  Attendees are being notified out of an abundance of caution. The recommendations for low-risk individuals is to self-monitor for fever and respiratory illness symptoms, and to self-isolate and contact their local health department or provider if COVID-19 symptoms appear.  There is no recommendation for asymptomatic people who had a low risk exposure to quarantine themselves. Anyone considered to be more than low-risk would be contacted individually by their health department for further assessment.  Please contact your provider or your local public health department if you have questions or concerns.

Yesterday evening when we were made aware of the potential exposure we canceled events and began targeted disinfection. Today, our 15 member custodian staff came in at 5:30am and began team cleaning the high school in accordance with the CDC recommended guidelines.  The elementary, intermediate, middle school, and buses were also disinfected today.

In Wisconsin, please call 211 if you have questions for the health department. 

For Minnesota based cell phones (those without a 715 area code) please call 1-877-947-2211.  This is a United Way information line that provides free and confidential health and human services information.  

The local medical centers request that you call before coming to their facilities with any of the COVID-19 symptoms.  

Please keep your children home if they have any of these symptoms.  District policy requires that children be fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medication (such as Tylenol and ibuprofen) before returning to school.  Illness is seldom convenient and we understand the challenge this causes to your daily lives.  

Here is the link to the Joint Press Release.

With your cooperation and understanding the health and safety of our community thrives.   

Respectfully,

Mark Luebker  - Superintendent
Rachael Robinson - School Nurse 

Joint Press Release Between Polk County Health Department and
the School District of Osceola

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OSCEOLA TO RESUME WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

The School District of Osceola and the Polk County Health Department, in collaboration with local, state and federal partners, have determined that school will reopen in Osceola tomorrow, Wednesday, March 11, 2020.  All necessary environmental cleaning and other public health recommendations have been completed.

Polk County Public Health does not believe there is currently community spread of the Coronavirus in Polk County.

Based on guidance from the CDC, state health department and Polk County Health Department, students, parents and staff who participated in the Destination Imagination event are considered to be low risk for COVID-19.  This assessment is based on the symptoms the individual experienced at the time and the activities the individual engaged in while at the event. The individual was not coughing at the event, nor did the individual have any prolonged conversations with anyone but the individual’s family.

The School District of Osceola decided to close because the areas where the individual visited in the schools were large rooms that required time to disinfect. At this time no Osceola Staff member or student is identified as infected with COVID-19. We will keep the community apprised as we monitor the situation.

The recommendations for low-risk individuals are to self-monitor for fever and symptoms and to self-isolate and contact their local health department and their provider if symptoms appear.  There is no recommendation for self-isolation if there are no symptoms. Children who attended this event may continue to attend school as long as they do not develop symptoms. Anyone considered to be more than low risk would be contacted individually by their public health department for further assessment. 

In Wisconsin, please call 211 if you have questions for the health department. For Minnesota based cell phones (those without a 715 area code) please call 1-877-947-2211.  

Continue to monitor the Polk County Health Department website for updates; http://www.polkcountyhealthdept.org/

School Closing March 10, 2020

The Osceola School District is working closely with the Polk County Health Department to stay informed on the most current information and recommendations regarding the coronavirus. The health and safety of our students, staff, families, and community is a top priority as we work with the Polk County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in response to the coronavirus.

An individual who attended the Destination Imagination event at Osceola High School on Saturday, March 7, has a confirmed case of COVID-19. According to guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), spending time in the same indoor environment as persons known to have COVID-19 is considered a low risk of exposure to the virus. While the risk to others is considered low, we cannot know for sure that there is absolutely no risk. In collaboration with the Polk County Health Department and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the decision has been made to cancel school and all activities for Tuesday, March 10, so recommended cleaning can take place ensuring the safety of students and staff. 

We will continue to coordinate with public health authorities to ensure that our actions align with best practices to ensure the safety of our students and staff. As this is an evolving situation, please look for updates on our webpage.

Again, we want to express our appreciation for your continued flexibility, patience, and understanding. We care deeply about all Osceola students, families, and staff and will continue to share information and decisions as promptly as possible. Thank you for your care for one another and yourselves during this time.

Respectfully,

Mark Luebker 

Superintendent