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Tag: video

Ohio Supreme Court: School district firearms policy can go on, pending appeal

By Susan Tebben at Ohio Capital Journal

Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Supreme Court has said a school district can go ahead with a firearm policy for personnel while the state’s highest court decides on their case.

The Ohio Supreme Court granted Madison Local School District’s request to allow the implementation of a policy allowing trained personnel including teachers to be armed on the Butler County district’s grounds Wednesday.

The amount of training the personnel must receive is still up for debate as the Ohio Senate considers a bill to lower that training level.

But just as they allowed the motion, they also sped up the schedule for their own deliberation.

“No stipulations or requests for extension of time shall be permitted, and the clerk of court shall refuse to file any stipulations or requests for extension of time,” the court said in a filing.

The district asked for an expedited timeline because of the upcoming school year, which started Aug. 13. The appeals court decision had “no practical effect” before then, because Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine had already closed schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attorneys for the school district parents who filed the initial lawsuit said a last-minute halt to the appeals court decision “threatens to upend the expectations of parents who have used the intervening months to make time-sensitive decisions — and commitments — about how to safely educate their children this fall.”

“While parents face a variety of safety concerns when deciding how to school their children in a global pandemic, Madison’s last-minute request would add to the confusion and concerns that parents are currently grappling with, and have already made decisions about,” attorneys for the families wrote in a response to the motion, filed Aug. 12.

The parents disagreed with the district’s argument that allowing the school to implement the policy before the supreme court makes its final decision is “necessary to prevent irreparable injury.”

While both parties want to avoid a school shooting like the one that sparked the policy in the first place, attorneys for the parents said, being barred from implementing the firearm policy “does not prevent Madison from deploying almost any conceivable option to enhance school safety; it simply bars the use of armed staff whose few days of training fall far short of the state mandate.”

The school district has 20 days to file their arguments with the court, and the families have 20 days following that to respond.

Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and Justice Michael Donnelly disagreed with the decision to expedite the case and temporarily halt the appeals court decision, and Justice Patrick Fischer noted he would have specifically denied the portion of the motion to allow the district’s firearms policy.

Susan Tebben is an award-winning journalist with a decade of experience covering Ohio news, including courts and crime, Appalachian social issues, government, education, diversity and culture. She has worked for The Newark Advocate, The Glasgow Daily Times, The Athens Messenger, and WOUB Public Media. She has also had work featured on National Public Radio.

Aug 31, 2020
Artists Shine at the Pottery Affaire on September 12

Advertisement

Whistle Stop Clay Works (WSCW) is pleased to announce the third annual Pottery Affaire happening Saturday, September 12 from 11am. until 4pm. The show highlights local artists who will be offering hand made pottery, paintings, note cards, photographs, felted items, and much more.

This show is a wonderful opportunity to support local artists who have been impacted by the pandemic and to buy unique, hand crafted work. There will also be demonstrations on the potter’s wheel and pottery studio tours.

“It’s an amazing show. There are about two dozen artists showing their work. The Pottery Affaire offers tremendous variety and selection, so you’re sure to find something that just right for you or someone on your holiday list,” states Bonnie McNett, show coordinator and instructor at WSCW.

The show is happening by the beautiful O’Bannon Creek at 119 Harrison Avenue, in historic Loveland, Ohio. “The setting is just perfect with lots of expansive shade trees and the beautiful O’Bannon Creek ambling by,” continues McNett.

The outdoor show will require vendors and shoppers to wear face masks and observe social distancing guidelines.

The Pottery Affaire is being held at 119 Harrison Avenue just north of downtown Loveland on Saturday, September 12th from 11am. till 4pm.

More information can be found by calling WSCW studio at (513) 683-2529 or at www.whistlestopclayworks.com.

Click on an image to see them full size…

Aug 29, 2020
What can Loveland Middle School students expect when they come back to school?

Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Middle School shared a video to FaceBook about what they have been working on and what their students can expect when they come back to school.

Aug 27, 2020
[VIDEO] A day at Loveland High School will look like this

Loveland, Ohio – This week, the Loveland City School District has shared videos on FaceBook to give families a better insight into what to expect as they welcome back students on Monday, August 31.

Here’s what Loveland High School teachers and administrators had to say.

Aug 27, 2020
[VIDEO] What will a day be like for students at the Loveland Intermediate School

Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Intermediate School team walks you through what a typical day will look like for their incoming 5th and 6th graders.

You may even see Mr. Carlier and Mrs. Carter race.

This video was shared on the Loveland City Schools FaceBook page on August 26.

Aug 27, 2020
All Miami University student-athletes who returned to campus ordered to quarantine for 14 days

Oxford, Ohio – Following our report of 4 days ago that since the start of classes, that they had 10 positive COVID-19 tests among students and 2 among employees on the Oxford campus, Miami University now has announced that it learned on August 24, that twenty-seven student-athletes from various teams have now tested positive for COVID-19.

Fall classes began on Monday, August 17, mostly remote, with graduate students and some programs in person. Students who will be living off campus have been encouraged to stay home, if they can, until face-to-face courses start on Monday, September 21.

The university said, “Many, but not all, had attended an off-campus social gathering, over a week ago. The Butler County General Health District “out of an abundance of caution” is quarantining all Miami University student-athletes who have returned to Oxford, and any coaches and staff who were in contact with them.

The Butler County General Health District issued the blanket quarantine order to ensure no student-athletes would be missed through the normal method of contact tracing.

In the announcement by the university, Jennifer Bailer, Health Commissioner for Butler County General Health District, said, “As we know, the COVID-19 virus can spread quickly between people and infect groups of people in a hurry. This disease is serious. In young adults it is often mild, but has the potential to become critical for those with underlying disease or other risk factors.”

“One of the main functions of public health is to identify persons who have been in contact with COVID-19 cases as quickly as possible and ask them to quarantine for 14 days and monitor themselves for symptoms. This helps in preventing the disease to spread any further,” stated Bailer.

“My concern for the health of all of our student-athletes is paramount,” said David Sayler, director of athletics. “I am disappointed that poor judgment has led to this quarantine order and put in jeopardy our efforts to have our teams study and practice together.”

The announcement by the university did not say the total number of student-athletes who have been ordered to quarantine.

Because of concerns related to COVID-19, the Mid-American Conference announced Aug. 8 the postponement of all fall sports.

Aug 26, 2020
Yost Announces $85 Million multistate settlement with Honda stemming from defective airbag systems
Ohio’s share is $2,367,714.89

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today announced a more than $85 million multistate settlement with American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and Honda of America Mfg., Inc. over allegations the automaker concealed safety issues related to defective airbag systems in certain Honda and Acura vehicles. The systems were designed and manufactured by Takata Corp., a longtime Honda supplier, and were first installed in vehicles sold in the United States in the 2001 model year.

The frontal airbags posed a significant risk of rupture, which could cause metal fragments to fly into the passenger compartments of vehicles.

The settlement, reached between Honda and the attorneys general of 48 states, territories and the District of Columbia, concludes a multistate investigation into Honda’s failure to inform regulators and consumers that the frontal airbags posed a significant risk of rupture, which could cause metal fragments to fly into the passenger compartments of vehicles. The ruptures resulted in at least 14 deaths and 200 injuries in the U.S. alone.

“I’d never buy a car if I knew systems meant to save me and my family could actually hurt us,” Yost said. “That is what Honda denied Ohio consumers – the chance to make the best decisions for their families. This agreement will ensure that doesn’t happen again.”

“I’d never buy a car if I knew systems meant to save me and my family could actually hurt us,” Yost said.

The states made the case that Honda engineers suspected that the airbags’ propellant, ammonium nitrate, could burn aggressively and cause the inflator to burst. Despite these concerns, Honda delayed warning consumers and safety officials, even as it began partial recalls in 2008 and 2009. Further, Honda continued to represent to consumers that its vehicles, including its airbags, were safe. Since 2008, Honda has recalled approximately 12.9 million Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the suspect inflators.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost

The states alleged that Honda’s actions, or perhaps more accurately its failures to act, as well as its misrepresentations about the safety of its vehicles, were unfair and deceptive, and that Honda’s conduct violated state consumer protection laws, including Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act, O.R.C 1345.01 et seq.

Under the terms of the consent judgment, which will be filed with the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Honda has agreed to strong injunctive relief which, among other things, requires it to:
- Take steps to ensure that future airbag designs include “fail-safe” features to protect passengers in the event the inflator ruptures.
- Adopt changes to its procurement process for frontal airbags, ensure that its suppliers have the appropriate industry certifications and satisfy key industry performance standards, as well as improve record-keeping and parts tracking.
- Implement recurrence prevention procedures designed to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again, such as requiring that Honda approve all new frontal airbag designs before the company will consider them for use in new vehicles.
- Abide by prohibitions on misleading advertisements and point of sale representations regarding the safety of Honda’s vehicles, including the airbags.
- Make improvements in critical areas such as risk management, quality control, supplier oversight, training and certifications, and implement mandatory whistleblower protections.
Honda also agreed to pay the participating attorneys general a total of $85,151,210.15, of which Ohio’s share is $2,367,714.89.

In addition to Ohio, the multistate group includes Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Consumers who own a Honda or Acura vehicle are strongly encouraged to visit Honda’s airbag recall website at Hondaairbaginfo.com, or call its customer service toll-free number at 1-888-234-2138, to see if the vehicle is subject to a recall. Consumers may also check for open recalls by going to Safercar.gov. All safety recall repairs are free at authorized Honda dealers.
Aug 26, 2020
Little Miami’s Return to Learn! plan
Morrow, Ohio – On August 6, Little Miami Local Schools announced that it was pushing back the opening dates of school for the 2020-2021 school year by one week.

The first day of school for grades 5-12 was on Monday, Aug. 24.

The first day for grades PreK-4 is Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Students who are enrolled in Virtual Learning Academy will also begin their courses on these days.

The information below contains the plans for returning students and staff to Little Miami school buildings for the 2020-2021 school year.

“As with many things in these unprecedented times, this plan could change with new or additional information.”

Student Learning

For the 2020-2021 school year, Little Miami will offer two learning options.
1. In-person instruction. Students will attend school five days per week. Families understand that some level of risk will always be present when children and school district employees occupy school district facilities. Face coverings are required for students and staff, with some exceptions. Read the Board policy on face coverings.
2. Remote learning through Virtual Learning Academy, a third-party vendor. This option is for students whose families do not wish to send them to school. Students will agree to remote learning from home one semester at a time. Students will not be permitted to come in and out of remote learning. VLA classes will be supported by Little Miami teachers. See more information on VLA here.
In Case of Unexpected Closure/Remote Learning

Should local or regional conditions dictate, Little Miami will enact its Intermittent Remote Learning Plan, where all students will participate in virtual learning. Moving to remote instruction may be at the direction of the Warren County Health District, the Ohio Department of Health, or local or state government. Students who are currently enrolled in VLA will continue in VLA.

Read the Intermittent Remote Learning Plan.

Individual Building In-Person Learning Details
General District Details by Department

“Little Miami has worked very hard to make sure students and staff can return to – and stay in – our buildings this school year. Little Miami has also tried to be clear with students and staff that there is some risk returning to school. In the event that someone tests positive for the virus, Little Miami will take our lead from the Warren County Health Department regarding protocols. Should local or regional conditions dictate, Little Miami will enact its Intermittent Remote Learning Plan, where all students will participate in virtual learning. Moving to remote instruction may be at the direction of the Warren County Health District, the Ohio Department of Health, or local or state government. Students who are currently enrolled in VLA will continue in VLA.”See Little Miami’s intermittent remote learning plan.

2020-2021 VIRTUAL LEARNING AT LITTLE MIAMI

For the 2020-2021 school year, Little Miami will offer two learning options: in-person instruction in LM buildings, or remote learning through Virtual Learning Academy (VLA). VLA is operated by the Jefferson County (Ohio) Educational Services Center.
- VLA student tutorial videos, offering a look at how the courses function
- The 2020-2021 VLA course catalog for parents’ reference
- VLA device agreement to borrow an LM device
More than 1,000 students opt to begin year remotely

About 1,000 Little Miami students — approximately 20 percent of the district’s enrollment — have elected to begin the 2020-21 school year using Virtual Learning Academy.

The number of families electing to go remote was fairly consistent across grade levels. The average number of remote learning students per grade is 75. More than 200 high school students will be using VLA to begin the year.

Regulations for spectators announced

Also Read…

Loveland Magazine’s “Guidebook” to the Loveland School District

Additional info about Loveland School District’s reopening progress

Loveland School’s face mask policy

COVID 19 clusters temporarily closes most of UD campus

School funding bill to get new look under new speaker

Kings School District Reopening Plan

Milford Schools delay opening

[12 positive cases] COVID-19 Oxford Campus Dashboard now available

Reopening begins for Ohio’s colleges: Here’s how it looks

Fall High School Contact Sports Receive the Go-Ahead From DeWine

Indian Hills schools: In-person, Virtual Academy or Hybrid
Aug 26, 2020
Sycamore Community Schools’ back to school plans
Blue Ash, Ohio – September 8 will be the first day of school for all students, including those in a virtual classroom learning setting. Parents have been asked to look for more information about their student’s school’s transition days for face-to-face learners on September 3-4. Half of Grades K-4, Grades 5-6, Grades 7-8, and Grades 9 and 12 students will attend on each of those days to ease the transition to school.
- September 8 will be the first day of school for all students. It will also be the first day of school for students in the virtual classroom setting.
- Grades K-4, Grades 5-6, Grades 7-8, and Grades 9 and 12 students in the in-person option will enter the hallways on either September 3 or 4. Half of each will attend on each of those days to ease the transition to school.
Families have been offered two options for the return to school.
Sycamore Community Schools will provide students Grades K-12 who cannot or do not wish to return to school with 100% virtual classroom learning fIve days a week.

In Virtual Classroom Learning, parents and guardians of elementary students assume the role of a “Learning Partner”. Each child will be taught by a Sycamore Community Schools teacher who will support the child in his or her learning, grade submitted work, and monitor the child’s progress. However, parents and guardians provide “vital support” for younger students in an online learning environment.

Students will follow a daily schedule of instruction

Sycamore teachers will instruct the virtual classrooms

Virtual classrooms will follow the same sequencing and teach the same standards as the face to face instructional model.

Aligned to Ohio’s Learning Standards and Sycamore Schools’ curriculum maps.

100% online environment

Student privacy protected

How will Virtual Classroom Learning be different from the 4th Quarter remote learning experience?

Attendance will be taken daily

Students will have a daily learning schedule

Students will be actively engaged in learning new content

Student learning will be assessed formatively and summatively

Students will receive grades per the district grading scale

Teachers will engage with students daily

Teachers will monitor student progress to ensure students are learning and progressing successfully through the standards

Virtual Classrooms will be monitored to ensure student engagement and curricular alignment, similar to the process in a face to face teaching environment

To ensure educational equity, Virtual Classroom ‘walk-throughs’ by an administrator or instructional expert will occur, similar to the process in a face to face teaching environment

Live streaming of classes will be considered as an option where appropriate, such as with unique courses at the HS

How will Virtual Classroom Learning be similar to Face-to-Face Learning?

Sycamore teachers will teach the virtual classrooms

Sycamore teachers will develop relationships with students

Sycamore teachers will use curriculum resources and best instructional practices to engage students in learning

Sycamore teachers in the virtual classroom will collaborate with the face to face teachers

Students will take the same common assessments in both models, as well as MAP assessments, as a means to ensure educational equity and alignment of learning expectations

Students will receive Intervention, Special Education, Gifted and/or ESOL support and have access to mental health services

Every effort will be made to allow students to take the same courses as in the face to face environment. Some exceptions may occur.

Curriculum is either the same as Sycamore’s or aligned tightly with Ohio’s Learning Standards and Sycamore’s Curriculum to ensure educational equity.

FACIAL COVERINGS

All staff members are required by the state of Ohio to wear district-approved facial coverings during the school day, unless it is unsafe to do so or where doing so would significantly interfere with the learning process.

All students Grades K-12 will be required to wear district-approved masks on the bus and during the school day with the exception of lunch, recess, and PE classes, or if social distancing can be ensured.

Families will be responsible for providing clean, cloth masks

District will provide a mask if a student forgets, loses, or destroys their mask at school

Masks must meet CDC recommendations and adhere to the Sycamore Code of Conduct • Medical waivers will be given for both students and staff

Accommodations for medical waivers include 6 feet or more distancing from others in class and physical barriers

MODIFIED RECESS WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE PK-8 GRADE LEVELS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

Adjustments in schedules to reduce numbers of students on the playground

Limited use of shared equipment

Sanitation in between cohorts

Playground supervisors will ensure physical distancing as much as possible

MODIFIED PHYSICAL EDUCATION WILL BE PROVIDED AT ALL LEVELS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

Use of outdoor spaces as much as possible

Forward only positioning for exhalation activities

Limited partner/group games and shared equipment

Sanitation in between cohorts

REIMAGINED MUSIC AND THEATER CLASSES WILL BE PROVIDED WITH:

Enhanced levels of music appreciation, songwriting, and music culture/history

Limited exhalation and shared instrument activities

12 feet physical distancing and forward only positioning for exhalation activities

Use of outside spaces as much as possible

You can read Sycamore’s complete back to school plan HERE.
Aug 25, 2020
Indian Hills schools: In-person, Virtual Academy or Hybrid

Indian Hill, Ohio – The Indian Hill School District is ready to welcome students back on Thursday, August 27, for the 2020-2021 school year.

A message from Superintendent Kirk Koennecke

The Plan Overview

Each family will begin the 2020-2021 school year with two options:

1. In-person Learning at the Indian Hill School District

2. Brave Virtual Academy

In-Person Learning

Plan A: Five days a week of in-person instruction

Plan B: Hybrid, two days a week of in-person instruction and three days of online learning

Plan C: Online learning facilitated by assigned teachers if conditions warrant that a face-to-face setting is not safe

Please note: If you select In-Person Learning for your student, local health conditions will help to determine whether our District will participate in Plan A, Plan B, or Plan C. Please see accompanying documents for more information about the Indian Hill Schools Attendance Model Overview.

What does the start of the school year currently look like for In-Person Learning?

For the start of the 2020-2021 school year, students who select to participate in In-Person Learning will return to school in a Plan B, hybrid model on Thursday, August 27.

Do I have a choice of days for the hybrid learning model?

Students will be assigned to Team 1 on Mondays and Tuesdays or Team 2 on Thursdays and Fridays. Though we would like to make this a choice per family, we will be sorting students into these groups based on several factors: coordinating the same schedule for siblings in the same family; transportation routing and needs; and enrollment balance. Families will be notified of placement through a placement letter by August 13. We also recognize that there will be some families who have extraordinary circumstances that may warrant a request of a specific group. In that placement communication that will be sent to you directly from your student’s building, there will be a form to complete to indicate a request to change team assignment due to extraordinary circumstances.

Not comfortable with In-Person Learning? Welcome to the new Brave Virtual Academy!

The Brave Virtual Academy is a brand new offering of the Indian Hill School District. This option is available to all students K-12 who choose to remain home. We are only requiring students commit a quarter at a time to give families as much flexibility as possible. Students in the Brave Virtual Academy will work directly with Indian Hill faculty in a virtual setting using our unique Indian Hill curriculum.

Our staff did an incredible job of navigating emergency distance learning in the midst of so many unknowns this past spring. This upcoming school year will be different. Our educators have spent the summer entrenched in professional development with national experts to sharpen skills for our Brave Virtual Academy.

Specific teachers will be assigned to the Brave Virtual Academy. Their sole responsibility will be the education of students who have selected this learning plan. At Indian Hill High School, students will have access to the full course of study. An individual learning plan will be developed for each Indian Hill High School student that may include participation in a state-of-art eLearning platform, independent study, and virtual participation in in-person classes.

What Brave Virtual Academy is not: Plan C.

This has been a point of mild confusion, so we want to help explain what will happen with your student.

If you selected In-Person Learning and the District is forced to transition to Plan C due to safety concerns, your student will continue learning with the same teachers and same peers online. Students who selected Brave Virtual Academy will see no change if the District transitions to Plan C.The students in the Brave Virtual Academy will remain in their previously established courses with Indian Hill faculty and peers.

We want you to have complete details for all that our Brave Return to School program entails including: health and safety measures; attendance model overview; plan details; and our COVID-19 screening flowchart. Click here to view the information packet we have built; we hope these documents will answer your questions.

What will stay the same? Our #IHPromise to you and your family …

Each day brings change and challenge, but also new opportunities. We have a vision of Enduring Excellence in Learning, Leadership, Innovation, and Service. This is part of our #IHPromise to you, and that will never change.

Brave Return to School 2020-2021 Information Packet

Also Read…

Loveland Magazine’s “Guidebook” to the Loveland School District

Additional info about Loveland School District’s reopening progress

Loveland School’s face mask policy

COVID 19 clusters temporarily closes most of UD campus

School funding bill to get new look under new speaker

Kings School District Reopening Plan

Milford Schools delay opening

[12 positive cases] COVID-19 Oxford Campus Dashboard now available

Reopening begins for Ohio’s colleges: Here’s how it looks

Fall High School Contact Sports Receive the Go-Ahead From DeWine

Aug 24, 2020