The Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) Board of Education decided at a special public meeting last night to shift to a five-day per week distance-learning model for all students, effective Monday, November 23.
Students will remain in distance-learning through winter break, returning to a blended model Monday, January 4, pending an improvement in community health data according to a press release issued by the District..
The release said that the decision was made primarily due to rising COVID-19 cases throughout Greater Cincinnati, which has resulted in staffing challenges. “Like other essential organizations, the higher level of community spread has a direct impact on staff absenteeism. Teachers and staff must stay home when sick, when in quarantine as a result of a close contact, or as needed to take care of family members.”
Superintendent Laura Mitchell recommended the district move classes back online as COVID-19 cases rise in Hamilton County and across Ohio. “My recommendation is that Nov. 20 would be the last day of in-person instruction for the remainder of this calendar year,” Mitchell said during a special CPS Board of Education meeting Tuesday.
Mitchell said during the transition week Nov. 16-20, students would not have virtual learning at their own school and would access work through Schoology.
What does this mean?
School will look like it did at the beginning of the 2020–21 year with students learning from home. Students who signed up to participate in the distance learning from their current school option will remain in distance learning next week, accessing assignments through Schoology. They will return to the 5-day per week distance learning schedule with their classmates on Monday, November 23.
Here are the CPS and City of Cincinnati Covid 19 Dashboards as reported on November 11.
Right-Click on these images to open in a new tab to see a larger view.
