WARREN — Warren city schools will keep its mask-wearing mandate for students and staff in place for now until there is more changes in the COVID-19 numbers, school officials said.

School Superintendent Steve Chiaro said at Tuesday’s school board meeting that masks mandates will remain in place for Warren schools, but he and other superintendents are watching the case numbers, which have been decreasing lately.

Board member Jenna Daugherty said some school districts have gone from “mask required” to “mask recommended.”

Chiaro said Trumbull County and Warren city health officials still are advising to keep the mask-wearing requirement in place.

“I listen to the local health officials on what they recommend. We are watching the data and number of cases locally to see what we will do in upcoming months,” Chiaro said.

He said at least eight or more Trumbull County public schools are requiring masks for students and staff.

“The first of the year the (COVID-19) cases were very high. We have been seeing a reduction since then and hope that continues. After that we will discuss adjusting the mask mandate, Right now we will continue to closely monitor the numbers,” Chiaro said.

Chiaro said he and other local school superintendents are meeting this week with county and city health officials to discuss the upcoming months of classes.

“it has been a trying time for everyone in the schools and community,” said board member Julian Walker who asked families to be patient.

In other business, Chiaro said the porch remodeling project on the old Harding High School facade has been temporarily delayed due to the recent heavy snow and cold weather.

He said the project, which costs over $100,000, is set to begin again once the weather improves.

“With weather like we have been having, we can’t pour cement or do what we need to do to fix the porch. We are getting close to getting the project done, but the weather has put us back a little,” Chairo said,

In other action, the board:

• Learned from Chiaro that the district has received a $234,090 grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation to be used to help buy three school buses.

• Learned from Chiaro the district will receive a donation of golf disc nets from Young Run’s Disc Golf Course in Champion He said the Champion course received a grant from the Disc Golf Association to replace equipment there. The older equipment will be given to Warren for setting up three courses near schools.

• Reported the McGuffey School Titonics robotics team — led by parent Amanda Colbert and others — will compete March 6 at state championships in Dayton, marking the second time the team has reached that level of competition.

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