A Shot in the Arm
Over the last few weeks, it seems like everyone is talking about vaccines. "Have you gotten it?" "Are you a 1a or a 1b?" "How do I get my shot?"
Ethics reminders
It has been said many times: 2020 has been an extraordinary year. Given the multitude of unique challenges that schools have met since the beginning of the year, it is sometimes difficult to focus on those laws that were in place before March 2020 and still affect school board members and staff.
It's time to engage and connect
I often told my children, unless they had an 8x10 glossy photo of an event or occurrence or unless they were told a piece of information directly from the person(s) involved, it could not be considered a truth. In the last couple of months, 8x10 photos have been figuratively developed and words from the stakeholders’ mouths have been recorded. Across the country, students have spoken and it’s time to listen.
ODH order permits school sports
Last week, the Governor announced that the Interim Director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) would be issuing an order permitting all sports practices and competitions.
Handling absenteeism during the coronavirus
Absenteeism data could be a key indicator in determining whether remote instruction is effective and where there are gaps, according to an analysis from Phyllis Jordan, editorial director of FutureEd, and Hedy Chang, executive director of Attendance Works.
CARES Act Update
On July 20, the Ohio Controlling Board approved requests to appropriate $100 million additional CARES Act funding for K-12 schools. This funding comes from the Coronavirus Relief Fund of the CARES Act and is separate from the $440 million recently allocated from the Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief (ESSER) Fund.
Free face coverings from BWC's Protecting Ohio's Workers program
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) has announced a new program called Protecting Ohio’s Workforce – We’ve Got You Covered. BWC’s program is providing face coverings free of charge to public employers who are in good standing and report payroll to BWC.
Grading, Promotion and Retention: Coronavirus (COVID–19) FAQ
On March 12, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton ordered all Ohio’s public, community, and private K-12 school buildings closed to students due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) state of emergency. This document provides guidance to school districts as they make a good faith effort to determine, to the extent practicable, how to issue grades and provide feedback