Most school districts across the area are beginning the new school year using hybrid education models with students attending classes in-person two days per week and working from home three days, or getting their education fully online.

Only three districts — Youngstown and Lowellville in Mahoning County and Girard in Trumbull County — have fully committed to having all of their students being educated online at least through the first nine weeks of school.

Some districts, including Lordstown, Joseph Badger, Jackson-Milton and Weathersfield, will have in-person classes five days per week, with an option for students to have online classes only. The vast majority of area districts will have some form of hybrid or blended classes.

Hubbard Exempted Village Schools will begin Aug. 31. Hubbard will be a hybrid district, with some students attending classes in its building on Mondays and Thursdays while a second group of students will attend Tuesdays and Fridays. Wednesdays will be remote learning days for both groups.

Superintendent Raymond Soloman said district leaders, in consultation with community members, felt starting the first nine weeks using this system would be best to bring back slowly the district’s 2,000 students. Nearly a quarter — 425 students — are signed up for online-only classes.

The online-only programs are being designed and conducted by Hubbard teachers and not a third-party program.

Students entering district school buildings will have their temperatures checked and will be required to wear masks and follow all of the social-distancing guidelines required by the county, the state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“All of this is subject to change,” Soloman said. “Our No. 1 priority is the health and safety of our students and staff.”

Jackson-Milton Local School District will begin Sept. 9. Superintendent Kirk Baker said the district is having in-person classes five days per week. Of its 800 students, 25 to 30 percent have chosen to do classes fully online.

Students attending in person will enter the building through different doors according to buses and grades. The district has purchased thermometers with facial recognition technology. Students will be given assigned seats, so if someone develops the virus, the district can use contract tracing to gauge who else might be at risk.

The Liberty Local School District will have its first day Sept. 8 The district will have a hybrid approach where some students will take classes in person two days per week and online three days per week. It also will have a fully online program.

New interim Superintendent Andy Tommelleo said the district has approximately 1,400 students. Nearly half of the children attending kindergarten through seventh grade are taking online courses, he said.

rsmith@tribtoday.com