YOUNGSTOWN — Schools and school districts in 11 Ohio counties, including Mahoning, learned they will be among the first eligible to have their employees receive the coronavirus vaccine.

There are 45 schools and school districts in Mahoning County among those; Columbiana has three schools on the lists.

Trumbull County, however, has no schools or districts on the list released by the Ohio Department of Health and it has not been announced when those employees will begin getting vaccinations.

Several Mahoning district leaders expressed a sense of relief and joy that their schools are listed.

“We knew it would be soon, but did not expect to be on the first week’s list,” Kirk Baker, superintendent of Jackson-Milton School District, said. “We’ve been working with the Mahoning County Educational Service Center and they were making the arrangements.”

Baker said the district has about 140 employees eligible to receive the vaccinations and 94 have signed up.

Jackson Milton school employees are assigned to go to Columbiana High School on Feb. 6 to receive their vaccinations. The second shots are scheduled to be given Feb. 28.

Most Mahoning County schools are working with the MCESC on issues surrounding COVID-19 and vaccinations.

Struthers schools Superintendent Pete Pirone also expressed surprise that his district would be among the first to receive the shots.

“Any help in getting us back to some level of normalcy is appreciated,” Pirone said.

The district has 227 employees eligible to receive the shots, but only 170 have so far signed up.

Struthers schools employees will receive their vaccinations Feb. 5.

According to the Ohio Department of Health website, 91,000 school employees across the state are eligible to begin receiving vaccines.

Boardman Superintendent Tim Saxton is pleased that Gov. Mike DeWine placed an emphasis on getting school employees vaccinated early and that Mahoning schools are among the first educational institutions in the state receiving the vaccinations.

“There are many people looking to receive vaccinations,” Saxton said. “We feel honored to be among the first.”

Boardman has 580 employees eligible to receive the vaccination and 465 signed up.

LOCATIONS

Boardman High School is one of three locations under the MCESC where employees from other districts will receive their vaccinations Feb. 5.

“We have a large campus, are centrally located, so … I volunteered our high school,” Saxton said. “For safety reasons, students at our high school building will be taught remotely on the day employees from the other districts are on campus.”

Employees receiving vaccinations in Boardman include those from: Struthers, 176; St. Nicholas, 30; Poland, 182; Lowellville, 68; and Campbell, 146.

Traci Hostetler, MCESC superintendent, said the vaccinations are being given in Canfield, Boardman and Columbiana Exempted Village high schools.

“The schools were selected because of their locations and proximity to other districts,” she said.

Hostetler emphasized that vaccinations are only being given to employees who have preregistered.

“No one else will receive vaccinations,” she said. “There will be 35,000 vaccinations given next week.”

Vaccinations are not mandatory, she said.

DeWine has emphasized he wants most students back in classrooms by March 1. Employees being immunized include teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, environmental service personnel and others.

School districts already have or are planning to designate a partner to administer the vaccinations. Many of the districts in Mahoning County are working with Giant Eagle to administer the vaccines.

School partners will receive an allocation from the state for their designated week. They are being notified by Moderna or Pfizer the weekend before regarding the expected delivery date. Pfizer generally arrives on Monday or Tuesday and Moderna on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

It’s recommended that participating schools and districts remain in close contact with their ESCs for information.

rsmith@tribtoday.com