For the first time in 11 months, West is now packed with hundreds of staff and students as the building swells to full capacity. While some are ready to have a full five-day week, others do not share the same sentiment. Many conversations among West staff members anticipating a full-time return to school have taken place to build protocols for the safety of over 1600 students. Principal Erin Kohl, and West in its entirety, face the collective challenge of reducing close interaction between all students and staff to prevent a return to remote learning.

“My biggest concern right now is the fact we have a lot of classes with many students not being able to socially distance in the classrooms,” she said. “The outcome of that is if a student tests positive for COVID and they happened to have been at school before they had symptoms, or knew they had it, many more students will have to quarantine. Because of that, any student within six feet of those infected for 15 minutes or more is going to have to quarantine.”

While measures for safety are always in place for students and staff alike, some consequences are still unavoidable in the new model.

“As far as larger classrooms there is not a whole lot we can do about the class size, and our teachers are doing their best to put students as far apart as possible,” Kohl said. “We know social distancing is not going to always be possible.”

Band director Brian Wilson hopes a complete class of students will allow the band program to end the year on a high note.

“As a band director I am really excited to have all the students back in the building because that way we can have a full band class and make it sound like a band in the music department,” he said. “We are going to be able to use the auditorium so that we’ll be able to potentially remain six feet apart.”

With COVID-19 cases still high, senior Lexi Winkenwerder expects a virtual or hybrid model only after a few weeks. In opposition to the new plan, Winkenwerder began a petition against the new model and over 500 others have signed it.

“I feel like, as a majority, students' voices are not heard as much as they should be and we're not involved in whatever the school board decides,” she said. “I thought we should make our opinions known because our opinions matter. This affects us just as much as them. A lot of kids miss being at school full-time and I think being at home half the time is really hard for a lot of people. It's hard, but I feel like it's going to be just as hard if we go back full time too.”

Kohl knows well that regressing back to previous models is entirely possible, and that if it did happen, the short notice would be especially unfortunate.

“There is always that chance that it could happen; students and families definitely need to be prepared and have a plan in case that does happen,” she said.

In order to continue the prevention of any infection, Kohl and the staff plan to continue many of the precautions that have already worked, such as one-way hallways and multiple lunch periods.

“I'm very comfortable with our other safety measures with masks and hand washing,” she said. “The custodians will be doing a deep clean every single night and that's all going to continue, so hopefully our COVID cases will be really low and we won't have to have a lot of kids being quarantined.”

With a positive attitude coming into the new model, freshman Grace Milis foresees a new start for students, whether it be academically, mentally, or emotionally.

“I don't really have any concerns,” she said. “If we can't socially distance we still have masks, and having a full class of students will help with learning. I’m looking forward to being able to meet new people that I didn't get to meet at the beginning of the year, and having a normal education again, five days a week and full classes.”

Despite the concerns regarding a full return to West, necessary programs to aid students throughout the day have been able to proceed with increased student-staff interaction.

“Another benefit is that we also have so many support systems at school between food service offering students breakfast and lunch, everyday counseling services, and special education services for students who need that,” Kohl said. “It reaches many more kids at home that would normally not be able to access the resources as easily.

Despite the risks and concerns, Kohl and the staff are excited to fill the school with learners.

“I think I can speak on behalf of all or most of our teachers when I say that I want kids in school every single day,” she said. “Most of the concern that comes up from staff is: ‘are we and our students safe?’ It's looking like in March, our staff members are going to hopefully be able to get vaccinated, and so I know a lot of us were really looking forward to being able to take advantage of vaccinations for that extra layer of protection. There are definitely concerns over that safety piece, however, our teachers are excited to have kids back and get one step closer to normal.”

By Ashley Kozel

February 26, 2021

Oshkosh West Index Issue 5 Volume 117

Full-time masked return brings relief, concern amidst pandemic turmoil