Superintendent Q&A
The Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) has welcomed home a familiar face for the 2021-2022 school year. Bryan Davis, a former West business teacher, was recently appointed as the new superintendent of the OASD, a post filled with challenges as many students, parents, and staff members have been longing for answers to pandemic-driven questions. When COVID hit in early 2020, students were faced with the challenge of adapting to change. Everyone wants to know what Davis plans on changing in the near future regarding COVID-19 restrictions.
“Overall, we have a handbook that covers our COVID protocol for the year that includes all of our mitigation measures,” he said..“I would say the biggest one would be masks being required for the beginning of the school year, as our COVID rates are high in the community. That is something that we are reviewing at the end of the first month to see if we will continue requiring that. But, masks will certainly be optional, potentially moving forward for not requiring masks would be the biggest protocol we are looking at.”
To keep students in school and avoid a switch to virtual learning, staff and students are required to follow the guidelines provided by the CDC.
“The other thing that we are doing is looking at our quarantines, so… making sure that [students] are able to be tested quickly [can prevent them from waiting] all 10 days before getting back to school,” Davis said.
One significant concern currently being raised by students and parents is whether or not the OASD will mandate vaccinations to prevent a future switch to online learning.
“We are certainly promoting vaccinations for anyone 12 and up and trying to make sure that we are providing opportunities,” Davis said. “It’s not a requirement, I don’t anticipate that being a requirement for us, but it’s certainly something that we’re promoting and encouraging as we know that helps with the spread of COVID as we move forward.”
Last year’s high school students were disappointed when milestone events got canceled, such as homecoming, prom, graduation ceremonies, and many more. Missing out on the typical in-person school experience has taken a toll across the school district academically and mentally.
“We know that being in person is important from a learning standpoint,” Davis said. “We know that activities like homecoming and co-curricular activities are really important for the experience for schools and we want to make sure that we are encouraging that. Students in school are our overriding priority.”
While the challenges unique to Oshkosh feature a shift from his previous post as the superintendent of the Shorewood district, the environment strikes a chord of familiarity.
“I actually taught here at Oshkosh West back about 20 years ago for business education,” he said. “I’m really excited to work with a really talented staff; the teachers, support staff, and everybody here, I think is top-notch. I have been to many districts around the state and I’ll take our Oshkosh staff with anybody.”
Schools, both Oshkosh and beyond, are at the mercy of a pandemic unconcerned with student desires or priorities.
“I think COVID has been challenging overall and since the environment has changed so much from looking at positive COVID numbers in July to what they were in August, that was a real challenge... That’s not necessarily Oshkosh specific, that’s just for schools in general in the environment at this point,” Davis said. "Other than that I feel my transition has been smooth from my standpoint, I haven’t had any big problems or anything or had anyone have concerns, because we sit and talk about it to get a solution.”
As COVID brings uncertainty to the rest of the school year, Davis continues hoping safety protocols are efficient in decreasing cases. But throughout the change, the new superintendent wants to remind students to stay positive and be active in extracurricular activities, all while staying safe.
“Usually, through that process, you're able to meet people and you can see what you kind of want to do for a career,” he said. “If there is one thing about the school year that’ll stay normal, it’s that students can depend on the activities”
By Sydney Maki
Oshkosh West Index Volume 118 Issue 1
October 6th, 2021