HOLLAND, Ohio — Following the Lucas County Regional Board of Health's recommendation for all schools in the county to start in a remote learning environment, the Springfield Board of Education decided to follow this recommendation and approved a plan to begin fully online, with classes starting Aug. 31.
Remote learning is expected to run until Oct. 1.
An end date to remote learning will be discussed regularly with the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department to determine when students can safely return to the building, with the possibility of the formerly-shared hybrid plan being used, or whatever the best guidance may be at the time. In the letter sent to families, Superintendent Matt Geha indicated that an eventual return to some form of in-person learning is anticipated at some time during the school year.
The school district also announced it has decided to move forward with fall sports this year.
"In keeping in line with policies and protocols established by the CDC, NFHS, OHSAA, ODH and the NLL, we feel we have the best chance to provide the safest environment in facilitating a return to play," the school said. "That being said, there are risks involved in participating in sports. When balancing student safety and our ability to follow recommended protocols, we ultimately decided that families can determine whether or not to accept the risk for their athlete's participation."
The school told head coaches that the district's insurance company is drafting a new participating waiver for families to sign; the earliest the waiver will be available is Aug. 13 and can be found on FinalForms. The deadline to sign the waiver will be sometime next week.
Students will be offered the voluntary opportunity to attend a hybrid-style orientation beginning Aug. 24. This orientation will involve two days in class following safety measures to help students adjust to a virtual learning environment and distribute ChromeBooks.
If students elect not to attend this orientation, families will be able to pick up ChromeBooks during other distribution dates or students may use their own personal computers.
Families will also be able to follow a fully remote model for the year through the Springfield Digital Academy. The deadline to register students for this option is 9 p.m. on Aug. 10.
