FRLS officials update students

FORT RECOVERY — The Washington D.C. trip has been rescheduled.

The district's youngest students will be getting new assignments this week.

Plans are being considered for prom.

Those were among the updates Fort Recovery Local Schools administrators shared Tuesday amidst the continued stay-at-home order.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has mandated that schools should be closed until at least May 4. As of the latest updated Tuesday afternoon, Ohio has 2,199 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including two in Mercer County, with 55 deaths from the disease.

Fort Recovery Middle School principal Tony Stahl in a letter to parents announced the annual eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C., has been postponed. It was originally scheduled for April 13 through 17.

Those students will still get to make the visit, but it has been moved to their freshman year — Sept. 28 through Oct. 2.

“In addition to the order made by Governor DeWine, we must consider the safety of our students and community, the likely closures of major attractions or buildings on our trip agenda, and potential travel bans or “stay at home” orders to halt the spread of the virus,” said Stahl in the letter.



While Fort Recovery students in third through 12th grade are utilizing Google Classroom and other electronic options for “emergency remote learning” assignments, kindergarten through second graders were sent home with packets when they left school for the last time March 16.

Elementary principal Kelli Thobe explained in a Facebook Live video broadcast Tuesday — she was joined by the district’s other administrators — that those students will be able to drop off those assignments and pick up new packets at the end of the week. Pick-up/drop-off times, which have yet to be announced, will be available Friday and Saturday.



The assignments will also be posted online for those who do not want to pick them up in person.

High school principal Bill Overla addressed prom and graduation, the two milestone events at the end of the year. Prom has been postponed from its scheduled date of April 25.

“We’re looking at some other options,” Overla said. “A lot of that is going to depend on what the governor tells us we can and cannot do.”

Graduation is still planned for May 17, Overla said, while adding the date could change if stay-at-home orders are extended. He also noted the State of Ohio has guaranteed all members of the Class of 2020 who were in good standing as of March 17 will be able to graduate, assuming they continue to complete emergency remote learning assignments.

Superintendent Larry Brown told students spring break will remain April 9 through 13, spanning the Easter weekend, as scheduled.

He added there will be a “no new instruction” day April 29.

“We’ll have more information about that but we want you to know we have a day set aside, kind of a catch-up day for the students to get their work done and get things done at the end of (April),” he said.

The administrators also noted DeWine has waived all state testing requirements for the school year.

Athletics director Brent Niekamp reminded athletes and coaches the “no-contact” period remains in effect until May 4. He also spoke on behalf of the Village of Fort Recovery, asking residents to avoid park areas such as basketball courts in order to prevent the spread of disease.

“As hard as it is and as much as everyone wants to get out there, especially with the weather getting nice, please continue to practice social distancing and stay apart,” said Niekmap. “That’s going to help us all get back to where we want to be quicker.”