Coronavirus delays West Carrollton’s year-round school start date 1 month

Schnell Elementary updates calendar to comply with state rules.

The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the starting date for West Carrollton’s year-round elementary school.

Schnell Elementary’s new school year, which had scheduled to start in mid-July, will now begin Aug. 19, the first day for the other schools, according to the district.

“Please know we understand the sadness or frustration you may be feeling as a result of this change,” West Carrollton Superintendent Andrea Townsend said in a letter to Schnell parents and students. “We share those feelings as well.”

Gov. Mike DeWine announced in March the closing of schools in the state due to COVID-19 and has since extended that order.

West Carrollton school officials last week were told by local health officials Schnell will not be allowed to resume school in July due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to the district.

All schools are closed until DeWine says that they can reopen, said Dan Suffoletto, public information supervisor for Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County.

“We’re not telling them they have to be closed,” he said. “It’s

the governor’s order that they have to be closed.”

The board of education for the district - which includes West Carrollton, and parts Miami Twp. and Moraine then voted to moved the start date for Schnell to August.

“While we all knew that the passage of our recent school bond issue meant the entire district would eventually be on one calendar, we thought we would have a bit more time to prepare for this transition,” Townsend’s letter said.

“Included in that transition were plans to conduct community forums on a possible hybrid calendar for the district. This will still occur,” she added.

Dates and times will be announced later, she said.

The remainder of the school starting and ending dates for Schnell and other West Carrollton schools in the 2020-21 year is:

■ Oct. 15, 1st quarter ends; ■ Oct. 19, 2nd quarter begins;

■ Dec. 18, 2nd quarter ends;

■ Jan. 4, 3rd quarter begins;

■ March 11, 3rd quarter ends;

■ March 15, 4th quarter begins;

■ May 27, Last day for students.