TOLEDO, Ohio — In a move that's been anticipated by many, Toledo Public Schools on Tuesday released information on the district's return to in-person learning amid the coronavirus.
Toledo Public Schools said the district is working to bring students back to school in a Yellow Light (or hybrid status) in the next few weeks. The goal is for all students to be back to in-person learning by March 1, 2021.
The schedule is as follows:
Monday, February 22:
- The A Group for grades PreK through third grade return to school
- Remaining students continue remotely
- All self-contained Special Education students (PreK through 12 grades) return to school on the C schedule
Tuesday, February 23:
- The B Group for grades PreK through third return to school
- Remaining students continue remotely
Wednesday, February 24:
- Remote instruction day for all students
Thursday, February 25:
- A Group for grades fourth through eighth return to school
- Freshmen in the A Group return to school
- PreK through third-grade students continue on the A/B schedule
Friday, February 26:
- B Group for grades fourth through eighth return to school
- Freshmen in the B Group return to school
- PreK through third-grade students continue on the A/B schedule
Monday, March 1:
- All students (including high school students) are in school, following their A or B Group schedule
TPS Superintendent Dr. Romules Durant says high school students have been remote since the coronavirus shutdown schools and they have really been impacted.
"Socialization in schools is a big part of what you do as a teenager growing up. Being at the house and not being able to have the social interactions that you were able to have a year and a half prior can be very depressing. We found we had to provide a lot of students support to a lot of homes where kids were going through mental stress as well as the families as a whole," Dr. Durant said.
This move is being made, in part, because of the state's request to return to in-person learning in order to get staff vaccinated by March 1.
Dr. Durant says getting staff and teachers vaccinated will provide an extra barrier of safety when they return.
District officials tell WTOL 11 that there are more than 4,200 employees in the district and they have requested that amount of vaccines from the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department.
At this time TPS says it's still too early to know how many vaccines their district will receive or how many employees will get the shot.
Leaders say being remote has caused a significant learning gap and they are excited to get students back in the buildings.
"By getting students back into physical attending, even though it's a hybrid schedule, it will allow us to connect with those students physically in terms of attendance. Which we believe that social and emotional impact will also assist us in the educational outcomes of kids," said Executive Transformational Leader of Curriculum Jim Gault.
TPS officials will continue to work cooperatively with the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department as the district moves to a yellow or hybrid status. Students and staff members will be required to follow strict safety precautions, including wearing a mask while in school and practicing social distancing.
Classrooms, offices and other high traffic areas will be cleaned throughout each school day and a deep cleaning is scheduled for Wednesdays or remote learning days.
If you have questions about this transition back to in-person instruction, you are asked to contact your students’ principal.