Ohio County Schools Officials Laying Framework for Re-Entry
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WHEELING -- Ohio County Schools is preparing its plan for re-entry to education in the school district, and conferring with students, parents and health officials on what is the best way to start the upcoming school year.
On Tuesday, Superintendent Kim Miller and Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones discussed a proposed framework for re-entry in closed sessions with faculty senate chairs, nurses, parents and representatives of their teachers and service personnel unions.
Later this week they also are scheduled to meet with local pediatricians to get their perspective on the current state of the coronavirus pandemic, and they also will be consulting with the Ohio County Health Department.
The resulting document for re-entry in Ohio County Schools establishes various options administrators may enact based upon the current level of coronavirus in the county. It will be presented to the Ohio County Board of Education when it meets at 6 p.m. Monday at the board office, 2023 National Road, Elm Grove.
"Our plan is to design a framework where we can fluidly move from level to level based upon working with the health department if there are any positive cases or reasons for concern," Miller said.
She outlined the re-entry document as currently written, and explained the different options.
* Level O would be a return to five day a week in-person education in the school. This is the current plan for education in Ohio County when school resumes Sept. 9.
* Level 2 would mean a four day school week, with schools closed on the fifth day for cleaning.
* Level 3 would be a hybrid of Level O and Level 2, with their being two days of in-school instruction each week, and three days of remote learning.
* Level 4 would result if there is a need for all at-home learning and keeping students out of classrooms.
An alternative to allow all students to do all online learning at home would be available to parents concerned about sending their children back to classrooms.
"We are going to be working closely with families to see they feel comfortable and confident sending their children to school," Miller said. "We will have the options in some situations of in-seat and out-of-seat learning. If we are in the hybrid mode, they would be expected to come two days a week with remote learning three days a week.
"Or they may choose to go strictly remote learning."
Ohio County Schools surveyed students and their families in late June as to their thoughts on returning to in-person learning in the classroom.
At that time, 1,770 families responded, and 1,086 -- or 61 percent -- indicated they wanted a return to a five day a week in school education for students.