Staff photo / Beth Shiller Students make their way to buses Thursday. Trumbull County school children, such as these from LaBrae, are off school now; other Ohio students begin a three-week break next week in response to the novel coronavirus.

Five students attending Lakeview Local School District in Cortland did not go to school Thursday because they may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus.

Officials said the students may have been exposed to a man who tested positive for COVID-19 at St. Joseph Warren Hospital.

The students are believed to have come into contact with the 55-year-old, who had no travel history outside the state. The hospital announced Wednesday that it is treating the man.

Lakeview Schools Superintendent Velina Jo Taylor said in a notification to all district parents that the parents of these children kept their children out of school Thursday as recommended by the Trumbull County Combined Health District.

Taylor said at least one of the students received testing for the virus.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS

Gov. Mike DeWine has announced that children in the state will have an extended spring break of three weeks, beginning end of the day Monday through at least April 3. The order applies to public, private and charter schools.

The decision, he said, was made after consulting with health experts and will be reviewed as part of the state’s ongoing response to COVID-19, which includes limiting public gatherings.

Youngstown City School District will be closed today to prepare for the state-imposed three-week closure.

But the city schools staff are expected to report today to their regular buildings, and students and staff are expected to report to school Monday when students will collect their school work and assignments for the planned closure.

All public school districts in Trumbull County, however, will be closed for students starting today, said Trumbull County Educational Service Center Superintendent Mike Hanshaw. All school activities, including extracurricular events and athletic practices / games, have been canceled.

School employees in several districts will be working today and Monday preparing lessons for students while they are out of school.

Warren City Schools Superintendent Steve Chiaro said the district will not be sending paper lessons home with students, but it will be developing online lessons.

During the time schools are closed, Warren will have all five of its buildings open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, so students who depend on the school district to provide lunches will still have access to their noon meals.

The district, however, will not be transporting students to and from the school buildings.

“We are reaching out to other organizations that may be able to assist,” Chiaro said. “Especially for those families who may not live near their childrens’ schools.”

The district’s lunch program will be operated similar to its feeding program operated during the summer.

Taylor said Lakeview schools are working on how to feed students who may need assistance during this period.

“We have a backpack program where students may be able to pick up lunches from the schools,” she said.

Taylor said district employees will be paid during the three weeks the schools will be closed.

“It is the law, ” she said.

Classes at John F. Kennedy lower and upper campuses are canceled today through April 3. Both schools will be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today to give parents the opportunity to pick up textbooks.

Remote learning opportunities will be made available for students.

rsmith@tribtoday.com