- Back at the end of July, we talked about a Cincinnati area doctor who said that face shields were the best for ensuring safe in-person teaching. Especially these ones he designed back in the SARS era. Over the weekend, the Ohio Department of Health said that shields were not allowed as mask substitutes in schools except for a few very special exceptions. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 8/15/20) This week, we learned that Dayton City Schools spent $28,000 on face shields that they can now no longer use for their intended purpose. The superintendent is miffed at what she sees as changing messages coming from the state, but do recall that the district itself has made a lot of zig-zagging changes with downstream effects over the last few weeks. RTA transportation, anyone? (Dayton Daily News, 8/18/20)
- Speaking of which, here’s a story about yellow buses in Stark County being readied for safe transportation of students when schools start back up. There is no discussion of charter or private school students who may end up being the predominant passengers on those buses for a while. (Canton Repository, 8/19/20)
- It sure sounds like charter school darling Toledo Maritime Academy is getting ready to go for the new pandemic-influenced school year. They are offering a four-days-per-week in-person track, a customizable hybrid option, and a fully-online version of their program that officials seem interested in marketing beyond the shores of Lake Erie. Interesting. (13ABC, Toledo, 8/18/20)
- Speaking of school year prep, here’s a detailed look at Columbus City Schools’ spending for fall as it is prepares for fully-online classes for at least the first semester. Big numbers. (Columbus Dispatch, 8/19/20) As of right now, Columbus City Schools will not have fall sports—as previously announced—even though Governor DeWine told us yesterday that he would allow football, field hockey, and the like to proceed with certain restrictions. (Ohio Statehouse News Bureau, 8/19/20)
- In non-rona news, Learn to Earn Dayton announced this week that Kristina Scott would be the organization’s new CEO, replacing founding boss Tom Lasley who will be transitioning to another position in the “cradle-to-career” support organization. Kudos to both! (Dayton Daily News, 8/17/20)
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