Q: Does Springboro Schools plan to open on September 8 with all students attending school five days per week?

A: Yes, the first day of school for all grade levels (PreK - 12) for the 2020-2021 school year will now be Tuesday, September 8. There will be no Pre-School or Kindergarten Phase-In Days. The first day of school for Pre-School and Kindergarten students will be Tuesday, Sept. 8. This change is pending Board of Education Approval (August 5 meeting). Once approved, a revised Academic Calendar will be linked here.

Springboro Schools has a Reopening Framework: Parent Guide, which details the district's current reopening plan options. Model A will be in-person, while Model B will be at-home/remote learning (Model B will be an “Opt-In” Option).

Q: When will the district notify parents and the community about a finalized plan for opening school?

A: We understand parents will need time to plan for the opening of school.  We may not have a final decision on how we will officially operate until early September.

We will be working with the Ohio Department of Health and Warren County Health District routinely. Our plan is for all students to return on September 8. This could change if there is a spike or resurgence of the virus before the start of the school year.

Q: Will start/dismissal times (school hours) be different this school year?

A: School hours will remain the same as they would in any given school year. Check your school building’s website at www.springboro.org for specific start/dismissal times at each building.

Q: Since the start of school date was moved to September 8, does this affect the end of school date?

A: Yes, the end of school date for students will now be Thursday, June 3.

Q: Where does Preschool factor into planning for the reopening of school?

A: Our team is working through specific plans for preschool, along with K-12. We are still waiting on updated guidelines from the State. Currently, Preschool has a different set of considerations in the State of Ohio’s responsible plan, as preschool guidelines are established by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (See Pre-School Update). Pre-School students will begin on Tuesday, September 8. 

Q: What will the Preschool schedule look like?

Q: What can parents expect if there is an identified case of COVID-19 in a school building?

A: A positive case must be reported to the Warren County Health Dept., who will assess the situation and advise on the best course of action on a case-by-case basis. This information will be shared with the affected families by Springboro Schools and/or the Warren County Health Dept.

If a positive case of COVID-19 is identified in the school, the district will notify you while also protecting the student’s identity and following the district’s Board policy.

If there is a positive case, the entire school building (and bus, if the student was riding a bus) will be cleaned using our electrostatic machine. Each school building will be cleaned on a regular basis, daily, regardless of a positive case or not.

Q: Are there any changes in process for alerting the school if my child is sick or has been exposed to COVID-19?

A: If a child is positive or has been exposed to COVID-19, we ask that school families alert their school building’s nurse.

All other absences should be reported to the school office, per normal procedure. 

Q: My child is not feeling well; should I send him/her to school?

A: Please familiarize yourself with COVID symptoms and if you are concerned, please keep your child home for the day to better assess his/her health. 

We are requiring that parents monitor student temperatures at home prior to sending them to school. If your child is running a temperature of 100.0 or higher, please keep him/her home to protect his/her classmates and teachers.   

Remember that as we move into the fall season, allergies may arise causing children to sneeze and cough. It is also typical for the common cold, stomach bugs, and even Strep throat to circulate in a school setting. Please remember to contact the office to report absences.

Q: If a child is self-quarantined because of COVID-19 exposure, what will learning look like and will this be treated as an absence? 

A: If a child is not at school or participating in at-home/virtual learning for any reason, it is considered an absence for school record purposes. Consideration is always given for students who are ill and are absent for any length of time.

Q: Will the school close again this year? 

A: While the goal for the school year is to remain open, we saw in March that sometimes we do not have ultimate control as the state mandate forced the move to at-home learning. If the state or county mandates another school closure, we will be well prepared for this possibility with our current at-home/virtual learning, Mobel B option for all students.

The teachers will set class times and create a more stable and structured learning environment for all of the students. 

At this time, the school calendar will begin and end per the published 2020-2021 academic calendar. PLEASE NOTE - An updated 2020-2021 Academic Calendar will be linked here after the August 5 Board of Education meeting to reflect the new Tuesday, September 8 start date for students.

Q: For the at-home learning/virtual model (Model B), is my child expected to be in front of his/her screen all day watching a virtual lesson?

A: No. The at-home learning/virtual model, which will utilize a live, virtual meet, will do so through Google Meet/Classroom. At-home/virtual learning students in grades K-5 will be able to watch their Springboro teacher's virtual lesson, interact with their Springboro teacher and online classmates, as well as have time away from their device for work/assignments. At-home/virtual learning students in grades 6-12 will be able to break out into groups online (through Google Meet/Classroom) with their online classmates, as well as hear instruction from their Springboro teacher. 

Q: For the at-home learning/virtual model (Model B), will my child be able to speak with his/her teacher and classmates?

A: Students may be able to interact online with their teacher and classmates, during the day, through Google Meet/Classroom. Students will be able to ask questions of their teacher.

Q: I want to do at-home/virtual learning for my child(ren), but don’t have access to a laptop or internet. What do I do? Do I have to choose the in-person model?

A: No, you do not have to attend in-person if you do not have access to a laptop/internet. Springboro Schools is happy to provide you with a Chromebook/internet access (WiFi hotspot) for your student(s). Simply call our Main Office at 937-748-3960 and let us know what you need.

Q: Will professional development (PD) be offered to Springboro teachers for the at-home learning/remote (Model B) option?

A: Yes, training will be offered to all teachers across several days prior to the start of school. This was one of the reasons the school start was pushed back one (1) week, in order to give our teachers time to train on our at-home/virtual learning model (Model B), which utilizes Google Meet/Classroom.

Q: If my student is enrolled in the at-home/virtual learning model (Model B), will he/she still be able to participate in athletics, band, or extracurriculars (provided these activities can still occur)?

A: Yes.

Q: Can I select the at-home/virtual learning model (Model B), but then switch to the in-person model (Model A) at a later date?

A: The commitment to the at-home/virtual learning model (Model B) is for one semester (18 weeks). You will have the opportunity to change models between semesters. A commitment form will be sent to parents before the 2nd semester.

Q: If I selected Model B, but now want to switch to Model A can I do that?

A: Yes, as long as you do so by Friday, August 14 (at noon). Click here to switch from Model B to Model A. 

Q: Is there any chance the deadline of August 14 for the at-home/virtual learning model (Model B) is pushed back? I would like more time to make this decision?

A: We would love to give you more time, but to be honest we are going to have to do a lot of re-adjusting and planning. We are going to need to hold to the August 14 deadline.

Q: I’m considering homeschooling my child or moving to another school which offers an outside virtual learning option to begin the school year. What if I withdraw and wish to return later?

Students withdrawn for any reason will have records transferred appropriately and will give up their space in class. Students interested in returning to Springboro Schools, must re-register as a new student, per our district’s registration policy. All documents and records will be required, as for any new student.

Q: What is the district’s policy on face coverings?

A: The district has a Face Coverings Policy, which can be read on our COVID-19 webpage.

Q: Based on the district’s Face Coverings Policy, if my child has high anxiety or another medical/social/emotional concern, will you accept a doctor’s note saying he/she does not have to wear a face covering?

A: We understand there will be several students with different needs. Face coverings does include masks, face shields, or gaiters (parent/student discretion). We are creating an appeals process that will go through our school nursing staff, and communicated to parents from each school building. Also, please click here to view the district’s policy on face coverings.

Q: What will the classrooms look like?

A: The classrooms will be thoroughly cleaned before the start of school (as well as cleaned daily throughout the school year) with only essential furniture inside the classroom. By removing the excess furniture, we are able to stage the student desks and maintain distancing (as best as possible, but not always 6 feet apart), while allowing all students to attend school in-person for full-day instruction.

Q: Are there going to be changes to the cleaning and sanitization of the school?

A: The school buildings are currently cleaned each evening. Deep cleaning and sanitizing will occur each evening during the school year, with specialized antimicrobial cleaning occurring routinely, unless a positive case arises, and then the school will be treated overnight.

Bathrooms will be cleaned periodically throughout the school day, and common surfaces like: handles, rails, desks, hard surfaces will be sanitized multiple times each day.

Hand-washing and sanitizing will be reinforced and encouraged, and additional hand sanitizing units will be placed strategically around each school.

Q: Will the district provide mental health support for students, teachers, and staff?

A: Yes, our Director of Mental Health and District Nurse are working with their teams, including school counselors, to continue to focus on student mental health and social/emotional concerns. Teachers and staff for Springboro Schools can visit the district’s COVID-19 Support webpage for further details.

Q: If any individual (teacher, staff, or student) has already had COVID-19, do they still need to wear a mask?

A: Yes, until we are told by the health experts that it is not necessary, all teachers and staff will be required to wear face coverings. Students will be required to wear face coverings on buses, when entering/exiting a building, in hallways, in lunch lines, and in classrooms with masks breaks scheduled during the school day.

Q: What will we do with school supplies and will students share them?

A: No, there will be no sharing of school supplies. Each student will need his/her own school supplies.

Q: Will you do away with the Springboro High School (SHS) attendance/exam policy this school year?

A: There will be no perfect attendance/exam policy this school year (2020-2021).

Q:  I am concerned about the shared drinking fountains; can I send a water bottle for my child?

A: The drinking fountains will not be usable, but there are water bottle filling stations throughout the school. Students are encouraged to bring water bottles to school in all grade levels and will be able to keep them at their desks. 

Students are only permitted to have water in their water bottles, rather than juice, coffee, tea, soda, etc.

We ask that spill-proof, reusable water bottles be sent with children. We do understand that in a morning rush, a disposable water bottle may be necessary, but appreciate the effort to send the other types most often. 

Q: Will SHS or SJHS be switching classrooms this school year?

A: Yes.

Q: Will lunch take place in the cafeteria this year, or elsewhere (classroom, etc.)?

A: Lunch will take place in the cafeteria with a limited number of students to accommodate social distancing guidelines. Students in the same lunch period could also have their lunch take place in the gymnasium or a designated classroom. This will depend on the school building, and be communicated directly to parents from each school building.

Q: With the quarantine of a covid positive patient, will siblings in other classrooms also have contact tracing/quarantine?

A: Springboro Schools will work in conjunction with the Warren county health department to determine who will have to quarantine in the event that a person has been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.  Students and staff that have been exposed within a 6 feet circumference for more than 15 mins will need to quarantine.  This will be determined by the Warren County Health Department.  Those who have been in the same classroom as someone who tested positive for COVID-19, will be notified but may not be required to quarantine.  Per the CDC guidelines, any immediate family member in the same household as a person who tests positive for COVID-19 should quarantine for 14 days.

Q: If a teacher gets COVID-19, does their time off come from their own sick bank or is it covered?A: The United States Department of Labor has passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) which applies to our workforce from April 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020.  This Act requires employers to provide their  employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.

Q: If a staff member travels to a red/purple zone, will they be required to self-quarantine?

A: The United States Department of Labor has passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) which applies to our workforce from April 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020.  This Act requires employers to provide their  employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.

Q: Will the Building Reopening Meetings (Virtual - Facebook Live Events) be recorded?

A: Yes. Each meeting will be recorded and posted to the district COVID-19 webpage. 

Didn't Find the Answer to Your Question? Click Here to See Additional FAQs Grouped by School Building, Special Education, Gifted, Transportation, and other General Concerns Will Be Posted Here Soon.

**As We Receive More FAQs, They Will Be Posted Here** 

Still Didn't Find the Answer to Your Question? Call the District Communications Coordinator at 937-748-3960.