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In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 in its schools, Opp City Schools will return to school from Christmas break on January 5th through virtual options.

All students should plan to attend virtual school beginning January 5th, including OHS students.

“When we looked at it, the two weeks after Thanksgiving we had a lot of kids out,” OCS superintendent Michael Smithart said. “Although we had only about 12 positive cases, for each one positive student, we had about 15 kids quarantined because of close contacts. So we plan to have the students back to traditional schooling 10 days after New Years and that should give us time to see what we would be dealing with at that point.”

During the holiday break, Smithart said the schools will be deep cleaned and sanitized.

“Under the circumstances, I think we have managed COVID pretty well,” Smithart said. “We were doing really well until right after the Thanksgiving holiday. I told everyone that if the two weeks after Christmas are anything like the two weeks after Thanksgiving then we are in for a challenge.”

Looking forward to the New Year, Smithart said it is time to start focusing on testing.

“I hate for it to be that way,” Smithart said. “But there is a point where school has to be school. The focus number one will obviously the safety of our students and faculty, but we have got to continue to be on the academic side to try and make up some of these deficits.”

Students will receive information in the coming days regarding class times and links via their school email account.