The Warren City School District has announced a plan to return most students to in-person learning five days a week.

The district revealed the plan Wednesday for students in hybrid groups A and B in grades K through 11. They will return to a five-day-per-week, in-person schedule starting March 15.

At this time, Warren G. Harding seniors will remain on a hybrid schedule unless Principal Dante Capers recommends an alternative schedule, the district said. Students attending classes fully online will also continue doing so at this time. 

The school district says about 2/3 of Warren's students are taking part in hybrid in-person learning and about 1/3 are doing full online learning. Warren city schools will be operating on average at 2/3 capacity, according to the district. 

"It is nearly one year since public schools in the state of Ohio were ordered to close due to COVID-19," Superintendent Steve Chiaro said. "Over this time, we have experienced ups, downs, spikes, valleys and plateaus just like a roller coaster. During this time, every one of us experienced various challenges. Even though we know children are resilient, the challenges our youth have faced academically, socially and emotionally over the past year will take some time for them to overcome."

The district says they will continue to use and maximize recommended health and safety guidelines.

Students and adults will be required to wear facial coverings at all times unless permitted to remove them during a "mask break," or while actively eating or drinking.

Plexiglass desk shields are available for student and teacher desks and during lunch time. Hand sanitizer and sanitizing stations are available throughout the schools. 

Social distancing of three to six feet will be observed at all times consistent with the Ohio Department of Health's acceptance of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, according to the district. 

Start times at all schools will remain the same but dismissal times will change as indicated below. 

WGH: Dismiss at 1:35 p.m. - Bus departure at 1:40 p.m.

Lincoln & McGuffey: Dismiss at 2:20 p.m. - Bus departure at 2:25 p.m.

Jefferson & Willard: Dismiss at 3:05 p.m. - Bus departure at 3:10 p.m.