The 9,500-student district was the first in the area this week to make the call to shut down live classes — starting Wednesday through next Tuesday — in response to the surge in COVID-19 cases in the region.
A few days later more Butler and Warren County school districts followed Hamilton’s lead in canceling classes — most closing down schools Friday in advance of Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday on Monday — and planning to re-open on Tuesday.
Hamilton and the other area districts cited rocketing teacher and staff absences from COVID-19 and its Omicron variant for unworkable employee shortages that were halting school operations.
Holbrook praised the district’s employees for their sacrifices since the American onset of the pandemic in March 2020.
Hamilton Board of Education President Laurin Sprague described the virus’ impact on the city schools this school year as “a rollercoaster.”
“I wish we had a crystal ball to tell our parents what to expect next but we don’t know what to expect next,” said Sprague.
In other board action, the members unanimously voted to return Sprague as board president for 2022 and Margaret Baker as vice president.
Both will be serving in those board capacities for a second consecutive year.
Sprague said the two-year tenures are by design and a tradition in recent years for the board to take advantage of leadership continuity.
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