Dublin City Schools employees were given the opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine over three weeks during the month of February, with the last round of the two-shot vaccine to be administered Feb. 26. The March 15 target date provides two weeks after vaccination which is the time period required for immunity. This timeline also provides  two weeks before spring break to address any challenges. Additionally, COVID-19 data is trending downward at the state and local levels. See additional information below.

We will return to our traditional start end times for students beginning March 15. They are: 

Elementary:  9:10 AM - 3:40 PM

Middle:  8:28 AM - 3:08 PM 

High School:  7:55 AM - 2:42 PM

No, this change does not affect the Remote Learning Academy program. RLA start and end times will remain unchanged.

The Remote Learning Academy is a semester-long commitment. Students are unable to move in/out of the RLA program due to the change from hybrid to “full-in” modes due to staffing and space concerns.

Workshop Wednesdays will remain in place at the high school level. This means high school students may not be required to attend in-person class on Wednesdays to allow our teaching staff to have direct contact with high school Remote Learning Academy students. Additionally, all students should be available on Wednesdays if requested by their teacher to receive individual/small group help, schedule conferences, and catch-up on their work. Required state and/or federal standardized tests may be administered on Wednesdays this spring in order to maximize in-person learning opportunities. If you have any questions about Workshop Wednesdays, please contact your high school administrator.

Dublin City Schools kindergarten students are a.m. and p.m. only programs. Kindergarten and will return to their a.m. (9:10-11:50 a.m.) and p.m. (1:00-3:40 p.m.) programming as scheduled prior to the pandemic.

No, the preschool program will continue to operate as it has during this school year.

The e-link will be up and ready by March 12. All parents will need to re-visit this portal to determine their stop, time for pickup and drop-off and bus number.

High school and middle school athletics will continue with current OHSAA regulations and accommodations. The district will determine the possibilities for the Class of 2021 and their senior events, including graduation and prom as well as other significant end of the year activities.

Approximately 70% of the student population will be attending school in person, with 30% of students across the district learning virtually in the Remote Learning Academy program. The student population varies by school building. 

Overall cases in Ohio and Franklin County have been trending down for weeks and that trend is continuing. Furthermore, throughout the pandemic there has been little evidence COVID-19 spread takes place in schools. The majority of cases we have seen in schools have originated from community spread outside of school. 

• Between Sept. 1 and Feb. 19, the District has had:
• 3,676 total reported cases of either quarantine or COVID positive
• 16 have been modified quarantines
• 451 staff quarantines
• 227 staff positives
• 2,350 student quarantines
• 632 student positives
• Of the 859 positive cases reported to the district, 16 may have resulted from an exposure at a school building.

Equally important is the toll the pandemic has taken on the social and emotional well-being of some of our students. We have heard from many, many parents who have indicated any risks associated with “full-in” school are outweighed by the adverse impact partial school is having on the mental health of many students.

Finally, the mitigation steps taken by students and staff have proven effective. We survey our staff daily about the effectiveness of mitigation strategies in an effort to identify areas of improvement. According to many of the physicians sitting on a variety of medical committees, wearing masks properly is the #1 mitigating factor to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Proper and faithful hand hygiene, building cleaning and contact tracing are also effective mitigators of spread. These mitigation steps will continue to be practiced on March 15 and beyond.

We know six feet of social distancing will not be possible in most classrooms. We will strive for three feet social distancing in classrooms wherever possible.

Principals are working through lunch logistics in an effort to maintain six feet of social distancing during a time when students are not wearing masks. Lunch configurations will look differently from building to building, but we collectively recognize keeping students six-feet apart at lunch is important. 

Six feet of social distancing will not be possible on buses as they transport students to and from school. Students will wear masks, have assigned seats with family members if possible, and be able to use hand sanitizer available on every bus. Additionally, windows and roof vents are kept open on the bus to maintain fresh air flow throughout the vehicle.

District breakfasts and lunches remain free for all students through June 30. 

If an exposure happens within the classroom environment and masks were worn, the student may continue to attend in person school and sports/extracurriculars during the quarantine period.  We refer to this exception created by the Ohio Department of Health as a “modified quarantine”.  Students should not attend school if they are exposed to COVID outside the classroom, including during sports and other extracurricular activities, regardless of masking.

The current attendance policy will remain the same. The time students stay home for sickness or quarantine will be counted as an excused absence.

If you have asked yourself the question, “When should I keep my child home from school during this pandemic?” please visit this link to guidance from Franklin County Public Health. If your student tests positive for COVID-19 or quarantined, please report this information to your school clinic.