Gov. DeWine announced Monday that due to continued concerns over the Coronavirus, all Ohio schools will finish the school year remotely.
“To go back to school now with a relatively short amount of time left, superintendents and others have expressed to me that returning would not be a good idea, even if the health risk was resolved.”
He is hopeful that schools will be able to continue with in-classroom learning in the fall, and says he is already having conversations with superintendents around how this would work.
“As these decisions are made, we will allow a great deal of flexibility,” the governor explained. The state will provide broad guidelines around incorporating social distancing, and it will be up to the schools in large part to determine how these guidelines will be executed.
He is also leaving it up to the schools how to handle graduations, proms, banquets, and other special end-of-year activities for seniors and other students.
“I hope schools try to figure out [a way to make up for this], while also maintaining their safety," he said, referencing virtual options.
DeWine took the time to bring awareness to three groups of students he is particularly concerned for during this time.
These groups included those without internet access, those without a supportive home life, and those in the African American community, as this latter group have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic.
He asks that those in the community keep these groups in mind as schools continue to go without in-person sessions.