“Gov. Mike DeWine announced that Clark County is now a red, or level 3, county on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System. In accordance with our Return to School plans for the 2020-21 school year, we will adjust school operations,” Superintendent John Kronour said.
Kronour said Kenton Ridge High School and Northridge Elementary and Middle School will remain in virtual learning through Friday, Oct. 23, based on the current cases and numbers at those schools. The Clark County Combined Health District also recommended these schools remain on remote learning as efforts are made to bring the spread of the virus under control.
Kenton Ridge students were moved to remote learning on Oct. 7 and Northridge students on Oct. 12 following coronavirus outbreaks at the schools.
“Mid-week next week, we will evaluate and share with families plans for the week of Monday, Oct. 26 through Friday, Oct. 30,” Kronour said in a statement posted on the district’s websiteon Thursday. “Please be prepared for the possibility of continued virtual learning or hybrid learning the week of Oct. 26.”
Kronour added that athletics and activities at Kenton Ridge and Northridge will remain suspended at this time and will be re-evaluated this week.
Rolling Hills Elementary, South Vienna Elementary, and Northeastern Middle and High School will return to hybrid learning through Friday, Oct. 30.
Group A, last names A-K, will attend school in-person on Monday and Tuesday and use virtual learning on Wednesday through Friday, Kronour said. Group B, last names L-Z, will attend school in-person on Thursday and Friday and use virtual learning Monday through Wednesday.
“At the end of this two week period of hybrid learning, we will evaluate and share with families plans beginning on Monday, Nov. 2,” Kronour said.
Kronour added that Northeastern athletics and activities will continue at during time.
According to Northeastern’s COVID-19 dashboard, as of Monday, the district reported 27 total positive cases, nine probable cases and 304 total current quarantined cases.
Kenton Ridge had 19 confirmed cases, six probable cases and 237 current quarantined cases. Northridge had six confirmed cases, three probable cases and 81 current quarantined cases. It’s unclear which of those cases are students and which are staff members.
“We appreciate your support and patience as we work to provide healthy learning environments and limit the spread of illness in our schools and community,” he said.
The district transitioned from hybrid learning to in-person learning four days a week for students who did not choose the virtual option on Sept. 21. The district planned to continue that model through winter break, but decided to transition three schools to virtual learning after the outbreak of COVID-19 cases.
Ohio Department of Health, Clark County Combined Health District and the Northeastern school district held a free pop-up testing clinic on Friday as a result of the outbreak at Kenton Ridge and Northridge and an increase in cases in Moorefield Twp.
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