2020-21 Return-to-School Update 8/7/20

JEROMESVILLE (8/7/20)--Hillsdale Local Schools announces that Superintendent Steve Dickerson is recommending beginning the first nine weeks of the 2020-21 school year following Plan B: Blended Learning. Please note that we are still a month away from the first day of school and that many variables could change the state's and/or county's COVID-19 status, necessitating a change to these plans.

  • This plan sees 50% of the student population reporting to their respective buildings two days a week and learning remotely the other three days, during a typical week, with the other 50% reporting to the buildings on alternate days.
Students will be grouped into the two separate groups alphabetically by their last names. 
  • In the next week, the district will be contacting those households whose children have different last names falling into both groups as to which days will be assigned to them.
  • In addition, others may be contacted to switch groups to achieve a better balance of students in certain in-school classes.
  • Which days students will attend in-person will depend on the district calendar and how many days school is in session each week.
  • Calendars specifying the exact breakdown of in-person days and remote days for each group will be shared pending the approval of the amended district calendar by the Board of Education at its August meeting.
  • Gold Days' students are those whose last names begin with the letters A-K.
    • Generally, they will receive in-person instruction on Mondays and Tuesdays, with remote learning on Wednesdays through Fridays on weeks that school is in session five days, per the district calendar.
    • For the first week, they will receive in-person instruction on Tuesday, September 8 and Wednesday, September 9.
  • Blue Days' students are those whose last names begin with the letters L-Z.
    • Generally, they will receive in-person instruction on Thursdays and Fridays, with remote learning on Mondays through Wednesdays on weeks that school is in session five days, per the district calendar.
    • For the first week, they will receive in-person instruction on Thursday, September 10 and Friday, September 11.

Governor DeWine announced on August 4 that all students will now be required to wear facial coverings, both on buses and in school buildings. Hillsdale's plan will change accordingly.

The district realizes that some families may have concerns with their children returning to school for in-person learning. 

  • For the 2020-21 school year, the district is offering Hillsdale Local Schools' Virtual Classroom as a completely virtual alternative to the blended model under which we are starting school.
  • For complete details of the Virtual Classroom or to fill out the form requesting more information, follow this link to the Virtual Classroom page.
  • Because we recognize this is a difficult decision, we are extending registration for the program until August 28.
  • For further information, questions may be directed to Alyson Baker, the district's Curriculum Director, at abaker@hillsdalelocalschools.org.

Each building continues to work on the protocols for daily operations, such as, room setups, recess, meals, etc. Please keep checking the website for updated information.

For the complete, 4-tiered plan, follow this link for Hillsdale's Strategies for a Safe and Responsible Return to see the protocols and expectations.

Again, Superintendent Dickerson's recommendations and the protocols may change at any time, due to the changing nature of the pandemic.

Please use the following form or follow the link to ask school personnel questions pertaining to the return to school.