Earlier this afternoon, Gov. Mike DeWine announced the release of two guidelines for the re-opening of schools in the fall. One is health focused and the other is for school administrators. Staff of the OSBA division of legal services are reviewing the documents in detail and will provide more information soon.

Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine announced guidance for reopening K-12 schools for the 2020-21 school year. Click here to read the guidance.

Last Friday, OSBA hosted its annual Sports Law Workshop in a virtual format. Thanks to all of the school staff who attended the workshop and to all of the experts who shared their time and excellent information.

Senate activity
The Senate voted to concur on Senate Bill (SB) 4 by a vote of 21-10. The bill provides $300 million to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for K-12 schools. The bill now goes to Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature.

According to Peter Voderberg, Chief of Broadband Ohio (an initiative of the Dewine administration), nearly one million Ohioans do not have access to high speed internet.  What follows is a very useful and easy to understand article about the broadband issue / digital divide in America. 

The racial injustice and subsequent events of the past several weeks have been mind-numbing. Hate makes no sense. The events since the George Floyd murder have forced a space for thinking much more deeply about inequity, racism and what it must feel like to be on the receiving end of unsolicited hatred. Our black and brown children must surely be traumatized.

Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 164. The bill, which originally dealt with student religious expression in public schools, was amended and passed by the General Assembly to address school district operations for the 2020-21 school year. Due to the emergency clause in the bills, the legislation took effect immediately. Click here to read an analysis of the bill.