Happy Holidays Clippers!
We hope the holiday season is filled with joy and relaxation after a stressful 2020. We hope that you are able to enjoy being with loved ones over the holidays for some much deserved time off. We also want to say thank you to our students, parents and staff for your flexibility and patience during a Covid-19 school year. Your understanding has allowed for seamless transitions to different learning platforms and instruction.
Providing a high-quality education for all students has, and always will be the focus at Columbiana Schools. The district has been closely monitoring the spread of the virus with our county health department, especially during the holiday season. We know and understand families have plans for the holidays. The two weeks after Thanksgiving, the Columbiana County Health Department had 1,425 cases. The Ohio Department of Health and our county health department are anticipating a larger increase during the holidays, and our medical system is already overwhelmed. Our staff and students have not been spared by these circumstances. Our cases among staff and students have also been overwhelming. Out of an abundance of caution for everyone’s health and safety, and to allow for proper separation from this projected spike in the virus, the district will complete the remainder of the 2nd semester with full remote instruction for PreK-12.
(Photo Caption: Full remote learning January 4-15 for all students. No school January 18. Classes resume January 19.)
This decision wasn’t made lightly. We know that if we return to full in-person instruction on
January 4, there’s a real possibility that our district could be closed for in-person instruction
indefinitely. We want to maintain a consistent educational process for our students, and, at this point in time, this is best achieved by remote learning options. We also want all of our students and staff healthy for a restart beginning with the 2nd semester.
Here is the plan for instruction for January 2021:
January 4-15: Full Remote Learning, PreK-12
January 18: No School (Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday)
January 19: Resume In-Person Learning, PreK-12
Thank you,
Donald Mook, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools