No clear answers on reopening Ohio’s schools

COLUMBUS — Discussions about reopening Ohio’s schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic seem to raise more questions than answers. Even as Buckeye State businesses begin to reopen, the plan for schools remains fluid.

Officials are considering several possibilities for returning to classrooms in late summer. They include returning to regular everyday classes, continued learning from home and bringing in students in shifts throughout the week.

“Schools will and should reopen when public health standards can be met,” Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro said in a statement. “When that happens, we look forward to welcoming our students to a more equitable, safe and dynamic learning environment that meets the promise of public education that all students, parents, families and educators deserve.”

Velina Taylor, superintendent of Lakeview Local Schools in Cortland, told Mahoning Matters it's still too early to tell whether the spread of coronavirus will be more subdued by fall, though that measure holds the key to schools' return in the fall.

"I'm very concerned that people are not following the right protocols right now, which might mean we'll have another uptick before we get to what they call the 'second wave,'" she said.

Similarly, Lew Lowery, interim superintendent of Lordstown Local Schools, said it's going to be up to state and local health officials to give the all-clear to return to "traditional" schooling.

Joseph Nohra, who heads Liberty Local Schools, chose not to offer an opinion for the record, as the state's suggestions remain nebulous — "There's so much unknown," he said.

Last week, members of the Senate Finance Committee facilitated a discussion about the next steps for the potential reopening of schools.

“I think this discussion sort of highlights the extreme difficulty of addressing this particular topic,” state Sen. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, said at one point during the hearing. “I think there’s a reason why the governor has not turned to, ‘Well, here’s our solution for schools and child care.’ These are some of our toughest issues.”

Kevin Miller, director of governmental relations for the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, suggested that any decisions should allow school districts some leeway.

“The important thing is that no matter what plan anyone develops, there has to be flexibility and trust in our local school districts and what decisions they make,” Miller told lawmakers.

“If we’re looking to develop ... this perfect scenario, there is none, and then I think you have to ask your question … how long are we going to keep this up?” Miller said. "If we’re waiting on a vaccine, which is now maybe 18 months-plus away, is what we’re going to do this fall reflective of what we’re going to be doing for the next two years before we return to some type of normalcy?”

State officials have suggested a "blended" strategy of remote and in-class learning, possibly with busing students into school buildings in shifts. Those buses would still have to comply with social distancing guidelines, so districts would only be able to transport about half the normal number of students in one run.

Lordstown would need to double its daily routes, but the district doesn't have the buses to do that, Lowery said.

On a "blended" instruction regimen, teachers would also need to develop two sets of lesson plans, one for online classes and another for in-person classes — "that's insane," he said.

Taylor said Lakeview is considering how to reshape instruction under the "flipped classroom" model. Perhaps students would watch instructional videos during remote sessions, rather than a teacher's lecture. When they return to class, teachers would work alongside students to apply the lesson.

"They're all trying really hard to figure out 'How can I make my lessons more robust and better in an online platform?'" she said. "It's a whole different way of teaching and we didn't know how to do it.

"They did a great job of knuckling down and learning with one day of [training] but we can be better, and we know that."

One lingering question centers on budgets and potential cuts and revenue losses at the local level.

On that topic, lawmakers could soon consider Senate Bill 313, sponsored by state Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott. The measure, which has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, would require the Department of Education to make payments in the 2020 or 2021 fiscal years to school districts that see a drop in the taxable value of property in their communities.

— Story courtesy of The Center Square.

— Reporter Justin Dennis contributed to this story.

This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 4:11 AM with the headline "No clear answers on reopening Ohio’s schools."