BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio — Three local school districts will return to increased in-person classes this week to continue changing plans in education in reaction to the coronavirus pandemic, The-Journal News reported.
Middletown and Talawanda will move from all-remote learning to in-person classes, while Monroe will increase how many students are in schools. Hamilton boosted in-school classes last week, and Fairfield will do the same on Oct. 26.
In Middletown’s plan, students will return on a staggered schedule alphabetically from today to Nov. 6 with some students attending classes Monday and Tuesday, then others in class on Thursday and Friday. Students will learn remotely on Wednesdays.
All students will return to a normal, five-day class schedule starting Nov. 9.
The district will continue to offer a Virtual Learning Option to school parents who do not want their children to return to school classrooms.
“We believe this is a very good and safe return to school plan,” Superintendent Marlon Styles Jr. told the school board when the decision to update the plan was made.
Masks will be required for students and school staff. Social distancing will also be encouraged and monitored, said Styles, and students and staff will be required to do school day health assessments before sending their children to school.
At each of the city schools' 10 buildings there will be a quarantine room where students will be kept – until their parents can pick them up - if they report coronavirus symptoms.
At Talawanda, students will return to in-person classes on Tuesday after learning remotely so far this year. The plan also sets up three extra days at the end of this quarter for staff development time to prepare. Those three days will be this coming Wednesday through Friday, the final three days of the quarter.
Monroe will also gave families the choice to return to in-person classes on Tuesday after no school is held today for preparation.
“Monroe district’s leadership team looked at several state and local resources for health data and considerations, consultation with other school districts, and feedback on our academic progress before making this decision,” Kathy Demers, superintendent of the school system, said when the decision was announced.
Monroe had been offering a hybrid schedule of classes involving students attending alternate days.
The Journal-News is a media partner of WCPO.
