LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: school buses

  • $461,000 awarded to improve Loveland Tiger’s safety

    $461,000 awarded to improve Loveland Tiger’s safety

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland City School District has been awarded nearly a half million dollars in the latest round of the Ohio K-12 School Safety Grant program. The state funding will support improvements to safety security upgrades across the district. 

    “The safety of our students is our greatest responsibility, and receiving state support for our efforts will help tremendously. We appreciate Governor DeWine and the General Assembly’s dedication to the Ohio K-12 School Safety Grant program,” Superintendent Mike Broadwater said in a news release from the District.

    Loveland Superintendent Mike Broadwater

    The grant provides $461,250 to pay for security system improvements across the district. This grant will allow for the installation of additional security cameras and equipment. The grant will also provide funds for new safety technology on all district school buses according to the release.

    This is the fourth round of the Ohio K-12 School Safety Grant program. Of all school districts in Hamilton County, Loveland received the fourth-highest grant funding in this current round. Loveland also received $100,000 in the second round of the program, which was used to replace the public address system at Loveland Primary and Loveland Elementary Schools.

    • Loveland Early Childhood Center is earmarked for $65,225 in this latest round.

    • Loveland Elementary is earmarked for $50,000 in this latest round.

    • Loveland High School is earmarked for $100.000 in this latest round.

    • Loveland Intermediate School is earmarked for $97,625 in this latest round.

    • Loveland Middle School is earmarked for $98,400 in this latest round.

    • Loveland Primary School is earmarked for $50,000 in this latest round

    The Goshen Local School District received $400,000 in the latest round of school safety grants. The Great Oaks Career Campus in Clermont County received $100,000.

    There is a “Round Five” to be recommended in the coming weeks according to Governor Mike DeWine Ohio as part of the General Assembly’s House Bill 45.

    Indian Hill Exempted Village School District had previously been awarded $299,714, Sycamore Community Schools $93,824, and Little Miami Local Schools $200,000.


  • Masks optional on Loveland school buses, volunteers to return

    Masks optional on Loveland school buses, volunteers to return

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – Masks are now optional on Loveland City School District buses. A federal transportation mandate required masks to be worn on school transportation and after-school activities, but that mandate was lifted late in the day last Friday. You can read the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control by following this link. 

    Effective Tuesday, March 1, 2022, the rules for buses will be the same as in school buildings – masks will be allowed, but not required. 

    Parent volunteers will also be allowed to return to school buildings after Spring Break, on April 4. The District is asking that parents reach out to their building principal if they are interested in volunteer opportunities.

    Spring break is Monday, March 28 – Saturday, April 3.

  • Current Loveland schools mask requirement

    Current Loveland schools mask requirement

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was updated 6:55 AM 7-29 to reflect that Loveland Schools will return to full in-person learning in August.

    Loveland, Ohio – Below is the face covering and mask requirements for the current school year in Loveland schools. This policy was adopted by the Board of Education on June 3, 2021.

    There will be no remote learning opportunities for teachers or students as all school buildings will return to full capacity in-person classes in August. The District announced on May 7 that, “Due to a lack of interest from our families, Loveland City School District will not be offering the Remote Academy for the 2021-2022 school year. We look forward to welcoming back all of our students for five-day per week in-person learning in the fall!”

    Revised June 3, 2021 

    8450.01 – USE OF FACE COVERINGS/MASKS 

    The Loveland Board of Education is committed to providing students, staff, and visitors with a safe and healthy environment. 

    On May 12, 2021, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine lifted the State’s COVID – 19 mask requirements, including the requirement of face coverings inside public buildings, effective June 2, 2021 Furthermore, he declared that local school districts will make their own determinations on Covid-19 mitigation efforts, including the wearing of masks and/or face shields. 

    As of the adoption date, June 3, 2021, of this updated policy, unless required by additional mandates, the decision to wear face coverings/masks on school buses, in school buildings, or at other school events, will be left to adult individuals and parents/guardians of K-12 students. The Loveland City Schools will continue to follow COVID-19 mitigation protocols to maintain a healthy environment for students, staff, and visitors and will continue to provide recommendations for personal protection from the spread of infectious diseases.¶ 

    In order to maintain a healthy environment, the Board will follow any mandates set forth by the Ohio Governor, Ohio State Health Department, Hamilton County Health Department, and Ohio Department of Education, (“Directing Entities”) as it relates to protecting the health of students, staff and visitors. When any of these Directing Entities requires staff, students, and visitors to wear face coverings/masks while attending school, reporting to work at a school, or visiting a school, the District’s Administration will follow and enforce such directives. 

    Ohio Department of Health Releases Updated K-12 School Guidance

    Loveland Magazine –  Jul 28, 2021

    Centers for Disease Control issues new guidance for return to school

    Centers for Disease Control issues new guidance for return to school

    Loveland Magazine –  Jul 28, 2021

    COVID-19 Guidance for Safe Schools from American Academy of Pediatrics

    Loveland Magazine –  Jul 21, 2021

  • DeWine lays out K-12 reopening plans

    DeWine lays out K-12 reopening plans

    By Susan Tebben – The Ohio Capital Journal
    Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine laid out reopening guidelines for state K-12 schools on Thursday, including a mask requirement for teachers, but no such mandate for students.

    DeWine said it is “the state’s strong recommendation” that children from the third grade on wear face masks, but maintained that local control for school districts will be in place as reopenings begin. 

    “A great deal of flexibility is allowed, as it should be,” DeWine said in his Thursday COVID-19 press conference.

    Ohio Department of Education’s 36-page planning guide

    The governor announced that the Ohio Department of Education published a 36-page planning guide that includes recommendations on everything testing to field trips and recess precautions.

    The guidance is specifically noted as “not mandatory” in the documents and emphasized the need for schools and districts to develop and implement their own protocols, while using the information provided by local and state health departments.

    “Planning teams should include school leaders, local health department officials, local school board members, educators, education support professionals, school health professionals, parents, students, community partners and local business leaders,” the planning documents stated.

    In developing coronavirus related-protocols, DeWine said before anyone enters a school facility, parents and school officials should “vigilantly assess” symptoms, and take the temperatures of everyone coming into the schools. In the guidance, outside individuals such as delivery personnel, student teachers and faculty of student teachers are all treated the same as official school personnel. 

    The Loveland District is currently working on models for reopening school in the fall, “which can be adjusted based on the pending guidance from state and local health agencies.”

    The planning guide said flare-ups are considered “expected” by state officials, and warns that school buildings may need to close in the event of said flare-up.

    Schools were told to work with local health departments to develop a testing strategy, thoroughly clean and sanitize schools, and teach and practice social distancing and hand-washing.

    Social distancing in places like school buses will be more difficult, and DeWine said as much distance as is possible will benefit students and staff.

    “(Specific measurements of distance is) all relative and it’s somewhat arbitrary,” DeWine said. “But the more distance you can have the better.”

    COVID 19 Health and Prevention Guidance for Ohio K-12 Schools

    Face coverings are required by staff unless it is unsafe or if doing so “could interfere with the learning process,” DeWine said on Thursday.

    Ohio Federation of Teachers Executive Director Melissa Cropper appreciated the moves by the governor, but said the OFT worries about the financial demands of the new protocols.

    “We are concerned that local governments and school districts will have to make decisions about the governor’s recommendations at a time when they are anticipating budget crunches and beginning to make spending cuts,” Cropper said in a statement.

    DeWine said it “is not right for me or (other departments) to micromanage” school buildings or districts.

    The governor did say he plans to meet with House Speaker Larry Householder, Senate President Larry Obhof, and minority leaders to discuss extra funding, along with the use of CARES Act funding.

    Cropper said schools would benefit from HEROES Act funding as well, a bank of about $2 billion in monies for K-12 education, but the act is still awaiting U.S. Senate consideration after passing the House.

    The guidance comes as the state faces continual growth in coronavirus cases, and data showing that cases are passed through the individuals within the area. DeWine noted that 80% of confirmed cases in Montgomery County have been linked to community spread.