CLEVELAND, Ohio – Five of seven of the school districts that did not meet Mike DeWine’s March 1 deadline for buildings are in Northeast Ohio.
The state estimates that about 200,000 coronavirus vaccines were distributed to the K-12 staff for vaccination of the school staff, although these are not final numbers. The first dose doses are almost complete, with one school completing vaccinations this week. Some of these staff have already received the second shot.
Ohio has prioritized school staff as part of an effort to get students back to buildings and outdoor learning. In exchange for returning to personal or hybrid learning by March 1, districts and schools can receive shots for all staff who want them. There are more than 300,000 school staff in Ohio, but there is no confirmed percentage of these staff who are vaccinated.
No consequences are set for schools that do not meet this date. DeWine said in a previous information session on the coronavirus that the state will continue to work with these schools to get them back into buildings.
Northern Ohio schools that did not meet the date are:
Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cuyahoga County
Cleveland schools pushed the start of a three-week plan back to buildings from March 1 to March 8. A note from CEO Eric Gordon said the district wants to make sure families have time to get to know more about the plan and to point it out. The delayed date will also allow for more preparation for return.
The first group of students, including those with learning disabilities and seniors from outside the track, will return next week.
Richmond Heights Local, Cuyahoga County
Richmond Heights Elementary School is personal. The middle and high school students can only return before the district has completed the construction of its new building, which is to be confirmed in the next few weeks, Superintendent Renee Willis wrote in an email.
Garfield Heights City, Cuyahoga County
Garfield Heights schools start on March 8 in a group model – two alternating groups -.
Akron City Schools, Summit County
Akron schools raised its reopening schedule a week at a council meeting on 22 February. A personalized learning option is now available to all students by March 15th. The first group of students starts on March 8th.
Youngstown City Schools, Mahoning County:
Like Akron, Youngstown schools increased its return date by a week. From March 15, students have the option to learn in person through a hybrid model, reports WKBN.com.
The other two are Columbus City Schools and Cincinnati City Schools. Some, but not all, Columbus and Cincinnati have so far had the option to learn in person. Jefferson Township Local, in Montgomery County, has not signed up for vaccinations, and leaders plan to remain remote by year-end.