OHIO — The state of Ohio’s long-awaited guidelines for the reopening of schools is getting high marks from educators in the Miami Valley and elsewhere.
Shannon Cox, Superintendent of the Montgomery County Education Service Center, which works with every school district in the county, said the state plan is what educators had hoped would be announced.
She praised the plan for keeping safety of students and staff as the number one goal. She was equally pleased that the plan allows local districts to make the final decisions about how students would be returning to the classroom.
“Most importantly, it is not just about the opening of schools but it is also about keeping schools open. We want to make sure we can sustain our open doors.” Cox said.
Districts do not want to bring kids back into their buildings, only to have problems develop and force the building to close again.
The plan from the state sets broad guidelines and few mandates.
Among the mandatory changes, teachers must wear a face covering throughout the day.
In announcing the plan Thursday, Gov. Mike DeWine said it falls in line with previous requirements for other groups of people.
“Just as we have done in the business sector with employees who work in businesses and with other occupations, we are requiring school staff to wear face coverings to reduce the spread of the virus unless it is unsafe or when doing so will significantly interfere with the learning process,” DeWine said.
DeWine voiced support for financial help for districts that will have increased costs due to state recommendations like additional cleaning of buildings.
He said he would discuss with state lawmakers the possibility of providing some funding.
Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper said in a written statement released after the governor’s briefing that money may be available from Washington.
“The HEROES Act, which has passed in the House and is now dormant in the Senate, would provide Ohio with more than $2 billion in funding for K-12 education, which would allow districts the resources they need for safe reopening plans,” Cropper said.
What many education organizations like about DeWine’s school plan is its flexibility and approach to which entity makes the final decisions on what happens when kids return to the classroom. It keeps control of schools in the hands of local school boards and local administrators.
A letter from the Ohio School Boards Association, Buckeye Association of School Administrators and Ohio Association of School Business Officials said DeWine’s plan will help district tailor their plans to the needs of local districts.
The statement from the three organizations said in part: “There is a range of differences in how the coronavirus pandemic has affected communities and school districts; the solution to the various challenges school districts are facing cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. The governor’s guidance for schools recognizes this fact.”
© 2020 Cox Media Group
