Name: Gov. Mike DeWine to schools: Return to classes by March 1 or forgo COVID-19 vaccines
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Gov. Mike DeWine to schools: Return to classes by March 1 or forgo COVID-19 vaccines

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Cincinnati EnquirerView CommentsCOLUMBUS&nbsp;– Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday night threatened to cut off COVID-19 vaccines to teachers and staff if schools aren't committed to returning to in-person classes, at least part-time,&nbsp;by March 1.&nbsp;Ohio is in the middle of vaccinating its&nbsp;334,000 school teachers and staff as part of DeWine's plan&nbsp;to return students to in-person classes by next month. School officials signed pledges to skip the line on Ohio's vaccine rollout, which has largely prioritized older Ohioans.&nbsp;But some schools, including those in Akron and Cleveland&nbsp;and , aren't planning to return to in-person classes&nbsp;– full-time or in a hybrid model&nbsp;– by DeWine's deadline.&nbsp;Cincinnati schools have already received their vaccines, and many Akron staff members planned to get shots by Saturday. DeWine said it would be unethical to withhold the second dose of the vaccine."The purpose of this is not to threaten anybody or punish anyone," DeWine said.&nbsp;"This is to get kids back in school."Recently released&nbsp;Ohio Department of Education research showedBut groups representing teachers weren't happy with DeWine's approach."I was&nbsp;frankly perplexed on several levels," Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro said. "It&nbsp;brought me back to my experience as a classroom teacher. I never thought it was a good idea to yell at the whole class if I had a problem with one or two kids, and that’s what it felt like tonight."Melissa Cropper, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, said if DeWine wants the few remaining schools to open, he should "stop making threats and help address the core concerns that administrators, educators, staff, and parents have with reopening prior to vaccination." do&nbsp;not plan to return to classrooms fully until March 22. Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati plans to remain virtual until the district accepts a 3-foot social distance as the standard districtwide.&nbsp;"We are getting kids back in seats, and Walnut Hills will go back when (it's) safe to do so," Cincinnati School Board member Mike Moroski tweeted.&nbsp;DeWine did not name Columbus City Schools during his briefing and said he didn’t know enough information to answer questions about the district’s decision not to return middle and high school students to buildings in the near future. Students in elementary grades, with special needs and in career-technical education programs.The number of children attending classes online has dropped dramatically in recent weeks with about 15% now attending classes remotely.Top House Democrat Emilia Sykes and Sen. Vernon Sykes, both of Akron, blamed DeWine for mismanaging COVID-19 vaccine distribution."We all want our kids back in school and our economy booming but we’ve been hindered by the failed leadership from the top that refuses to acknowledge where the real issues are, and instead places the blame on teachers, administrators and parents," they said in a statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ohio initially planned to vaccinate teachers starting Feb. 1. Instead, DeWine decided to dole out vaccines in phases to preserve the state's limited supply. Some school officials are not receiving their first dose until the week of Feb. 22.&nbsp;DeWine&nbsp;has &nbsp;as all students having access to an in-person option.&nbsp;Akron's current hybrid model is limited to about 2,000 of the district's 21,000 students.&nbsp;Akron Superintendent David James has insisted for weeks that it was his understanding the March 1 deadline was flexible. The district, the board and the teacher's union have publicly stated they believed waiting for teachers to receive both doses of the vaccine and time to build immunity following the second shot was the best course.&nbsp;James said in a statement Friday night that the district believes its hybrid model, which began one month ahead of the governor's schedule, is in compliance with the commitment made."We completely understand the governor's frustration over this situation," James said. "This has always been about the kids, as he said.&nbsp;Akron Public Schools has been working for nearly a year with the sole mission of returning children to school and&nbsp;keeping them and our teachers safe. We have worked closely, and quite well with state and local public health experts."COVID-19:On Friday, meeting in-person with precautions even if all teachers aren't vaccinated. President Joe Biden has prioritized "What we've learned is that kids can be safe in school and are safe in school when everyone wears a mask and everyone follows protocol," DeWine said.&nbsp;Akron Beacon Journal reporter Jennifer&nbsp;Pignolet and the Ohio bureau's Anna Staver&nbsp;contributed to this article.&nbsp;View Comments

Cincinnati EnquirerView CommentsCOLUMBUS&nbsp;– Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday night threatened to cut off COVID-19 vaccines to teachers and staff if schools aren't committed to returning to in-person classes, at least part-time,&nbsp;by March 1.&nbsp;Ohio is in the middle of vaccinating its&nbsp;334,000 school teachers and staff as part of DeWine's plan&nbsp;to return students to in-person classes by next month. School officials signed pledges to skip the line on Ohio's vaccine rollout, which has largely prioritized older Ohioans.&nbsp;But some schools, including those in Akron and...

Gov. Mike DeWine to schools: Return to classes by March 1 or forgo COVID-19 vaccines

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