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WARREN -- When students attend summer programs and classes at Warren City Schools in June, they will be required to wear masks when inside the buildings and on school buses.
Superintendent Steve Chiaro said in addition to students, all adults in the buildings and on the buses also will be required to wear masks.
He said school officials have spoken to county health officials on facial coverings continuing to be used in the schools and on public transportation during the summer.
He said the state will be ending most health guidelines on mask wearing and social distancing Wednesday. But the mask requirements will stay for students and staff in school buildings.
"School districts have the right to set rules and regulations in the schools on facial coverings being worn. During June we will continue to require mask wearing in indoor settings," Chiaro told the board of education recently, noting many participants in the summer programs are elementary age who did not get vaccinated.
He said the guidelines will be in place indoors, along with the use of plexiglass.
Chiaro said mask rules for outdoor settings may be eased and not required for athletics or use on playgrounds after Wednesday.
"We will take this one month at a time and work with local health officials to keep everyone safe," he said.
Board member Regina Patterson said she agrees with the course the school district is taking.
Officials said they plan to bring back students to in-person class five days per week for the next school year, with some hybrid learning and some remote online options possible.
Chiaro said all remote learning will not be offered.
Board President Patricia Limperos said schools need to be flexible to keep students and staff safe.
In other business, the board voted 5-0 to continue being a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, but members indicated they do not like the idea of a fee being charged. Still, they want the students to be able to participate in tournaments.
The OHSAA is requiring school districts with varsity sports teams to pay a fee of $50 per sport. Warren has 19 varsity sport teams, so the school district will be required to pay $950.
"This is the first time in the seven years since I've been the athletic director that the OHSAA has charged this fee," Warren Athletic Director William Nicholson said. "It is obvious why the association is doing it. It is trying to make up some income lost during this school year."
Nicholson said he does not know whether OHSAA will continue charging this amount in the future.
"I am not happy with them being in the process of charging districts to participate. They suffered quite a loss of revenue last year during the pandemic, and now they are putting it on the backs of school districts, which is not right," Limperos said.
Officials said many coaching associations also are against paying based on number of sports.
The board also approved 18 boxes of historical items from the school buildings being given to the Trumbull County Historical Society for public display.
Officials indicated the value of the items being donated to the society is $2,500.