The information below contains the plans for returning students and staff to Little Miami school buildings for the 2020-2021 school year.

This plan was developed by working with the Warren County Health District and other school districts in Warren County, by following guidance from state agencies, and by gathering input from parent and staff surveys. More than 400 staff members and 2,600 Little Miami families answered our recent surveys and the input was invaluable.

As with many things in these unprecedented times, this plan could change with new or additional information. Changes and updates will be shared with our families through our regular communication channels.

Guiding Principles

These general principles will guide the Little Miami Local School District as we move forward with reopening our schools:

• Little Miami will implement recommended safety protocols to the highest degree possible. 
• Little Miami will work closely with the Warren County Health District to promote safety in each school building. 
• Little Miami will be transparent with all stakeholders that some level of risk will always be present when children and school district employees occupy school district facilities.
• Little Miami recognizes the need for consistency in areas of operations while recognizing that differences in classroom sizes, school facilities, and building operations may lead to some inconsistencies.
• Little Miami has altered the start-of-school dates for students. The remainder of the 2020-2021 calendar has not changed. New beginning-of-year dates are:
  • Aug. 12: Beginning-of-year parent meetings by appt. (Grades 3-4)
  • Aug. 13: Beginning-of-year parent meetings by appt. (Grades 3-4)
  • Aug. 14: Beginning-of-year parent meetings by appt. (Grades PK-2)
  • Aug. 17: First Day of School for Students (Grades 5-12)
  • Aug. 17: Beginning-of-year parent meetings by appt. (Grades PK-2)
  • Aug. 19: First Day of School for Students (Grades PreK-4)

Student Learning 

For the 2020-2021 school year, Little Miami will offer two learning options.

1. In class, face-to-face instruction. Students will attend school. Families understand that some level of risk will always be present when children and school district employees occupy school district facilities.
2. Remote learning through Virtual Learning Academy, a third-party vendor. This option is for students whose families do not wish to send them to school. Students will agree to remote learning from home one semester at a time. Students will not be permitted to come in and out of remote learning. VLA classes will be supported by Little Miami teachers. See more information on VLA here.

If face-to-face instruction is not permitted due to illness, Little Miami will be prepared to deliver all instruction remotely.

District Plan

Individual Building Plans

• Little Miami High School
• Little Miami Junior High School
• Little Miami Intermediate School
• Salem Twp. Elementary School
• Hamilton-Maineville Primary School
• Harlan-Butlerville Primary School

Classrooms 

• Little Miami will inform parents regarding safety protocols. Any student who attends school will incur some level of risk. Little Miami will work to decrease the likelihood of infection with hygiene practices, enhanced cleaning protocols, and safety procedures, but being in a public place has a certain level of risk that cannot be eliminated.
• Classroom occupancy will be determined based on each individual circumstance with the maximum amount of safety considerations possible.
• Face coverings are required for students.
• School employees will be required to use a face covering when they are within six feet of students.

Transportation 

• Little Miami will allow two students per seat and in some instances three students if children are younger. 
• Little Miami will attempt to seat siblings together.
• Seating charts are required on each bus to assist with contact tracing if that is needed.
• Face coverings are required for Little Miami drivers/aides, and are required for students riding Little Miami buses.
• In the event state policies require school districts to use alternative schedules, Little Miami may adopt minimum requirements for transportation to reduce the number of students who are eligible for school district transportation.

Food Service

Little Miami will continue to offer breakfast and lunch. Logistics will be determined by each building in compliance with Health Department guidance.

Recess

• Little Miami will make every effort to maintain consistency with established safety procedures.
• Little Miami may limit student access to certain pieces of playground equipment that may be difficult to clean and/or prevents students from practicing social distancing. Activities considered “high touch” will also be restricted.
• Little Miami will work toward structured recess activities that limit students’ physical contact with others.
• Students must sanitize their hands after recess.