Superintendents in Mercer County met with Governor Mike DeWine via phone conference on Saturday, August 8, 2020 along with the Mercer County Health District and Mercer Health. We were able to share how we are working together to prepare for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Governor DeWine is most concerned about community spread and how this could impact our ability to return to all regular activities. We all want our schools, sports and music programs to continue to thrive so it’s important to consider how our community can help make this happen.
We know that having our children in school and providing structure is vital to their academic success as well as their social and emotional wellness. We also recognize that returning to school five days a week will allow us to model and reinforce practices that will mitigate the spread of covid. We are committed to taking care of our students and staff as we return to school. We also recognize that it is important for us to model and provide opportunities to impact what our students are doing outside of school to stop the spread of covid.
Additionally, we were informed that the written order for face coverings will be issued on Monday. Based on our conversation with Governor DeWine, we feel this order allows for practical implementation and local flexibility. We appreciated the opportunity to speak directly with Governor DeWine about the health and safety of our community and the importance of opening our schools this fall. We look forward to the 2020-2021 school year!