After nearly a year of mostly remote learning, students in the Youngstown and Warren city schools are going back to the classrooms this week.

Ohio health officials have been working to make sure teachers and staff have been receiving COVID-19 vaccinations in order to reach Governor Mike DeWine's goal of returning to class this month.

All Youngstown City School District students now have the option of returning to in-person instruction beginning this week.

Pre-kindergarten through fifth-graders will return Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning March 16.

Students at Rayen Early College Middle School, regardless of grade level, will return to in-person instruction Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning March 16.

Sixth through 12th-graders will return Mondays and Fridays, beginning Monday, March 15.

Families still have the option to continue with remote instruction full time.

"After talking to other school officials from across the state, I believe that if we follow all of the mask and social-distancing requirements, we'll be able to open all of our school buildings and still keep scholars and staff safe," said CEO Justin Jennings.

Wednesdays will be reserved for educator office hours, professional development and deep building cleaning.

The school district will still have weekly food distribution on Wednesdays.

Remote instruction will continue for all scholars on the days in-person instruction isn't occurring.

Parents or guardians will not be permitted in the school buildings.

All Youngstown students and staff will be required to wear masks. Desk shields are being installed in classrooms and floors and seating areas will be marked to ensure social distancing.

Warren City Schools

Warren City School District students in hybrid groups A and B, in grades K-11, will return to a five-day-per-week, in-person schedule starting Monday, March 15. 

The district is aligning the five-day-per-week return to school with the start of the fourth nine weeks. At this time about 2/3 of Warren's students are participating in hybrid in-person learning and about 1/3 are doing so through full online/remote instruction.

Warren City Schools will be operating, on average, at 2/3 capacity. 

"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,” said Superintendent Steve Chiaro.

Warren G. Harding seniors will remain on a hybrid schedule unless Principal Dante Capers recommends an alternative schedule.

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 lunchtimes. Hand sanitizer and sanitizing stations are available throughout the schools. 

Social distancing of 3 feet to 6 feet will be observed at all times consistent with the Ohio Department of Health's acceptance of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations. 

Start times at all schools will remain the same; however, dismissal times will change as indicated:

• WGH Dismiss at 1:35 pm Bus departure at 1:40 pm
• Lincoln & McGuffey Dismiss at 2:20 pm Bus departure at 2:25 pm
• Jefferson & Willard Dismiss at 3:05 pm Bus departure at 3:10 pm