COLUMBUS – In-person graduations will return for the Columbus City Schools Class of 2021.
The state’s largest school district announced Wednesday that in-person commencement ceremonies are scheduled at the Columbus Convention Center and three high school sites, all with spaces large enough to safely hold ceremonies for its graduates and their families, June 2-5.
“As we continue to navigate through this pandemic, our goal is to safely have as much of a traditional graduation ceremony as possible. This is an important time not only for our students and families but for our Columbus community, and we want to make it as special as possible while also adhering to the necessary health and safety guidelines,” said district superintendent and CEO Dr. Talisa Dixon.
Sixteen of the District’s high schools will hold ceremonies at the Convention Center while East High School will host its ceremony in its auditorium, Columbus Africentric Early College will use its fieldhouse and Columbus Scioto will hold its ceremony at the district’s Southland administrative building at 3700 S. High Street.
A $682 million package of legislation providing financial assistance for bars, restaurants and small businesses in Ohio, as well as funding for social programs and childcare support, is on its way to the state Senate.
The funding, made possible by federal rescue plans approved by Congress in March 2020 and December, includes $150 million for small businesses, $100 million to provide grants to bars and restaurants, $25 million for the hotel industry, $20 million entertainment venues and $4.7 million for local fairs.
The Biden administration’s $28.6 billion program to help eateries that lost business because of the coronavirus pandemic is part of a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.
An amendment approved by the House Finance Committee Wednesday added $55 million in childcare funding, part of $202 million for social programs and unemployment.
The Senate now must agree to changes made to the bills in the House.
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One out of three Ohioans, or 3.9 million people, has now been vaccinated against COVID-19.
The state reported 1,450 new cases of the disease Wednesday, bringing the total number of Ohioans infected since the onset of the pandemic to 1,078,734 with 56,991 requiring hospitalization.
The pandemic has claimed 19,344 lives.
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The number of first-time jobless claims filed in Ohio last week was 13% less than the week before as the state’s economy continues to show signs of recovery.
The 18,642 initial jobless benefits claims the state reported to the U.S. Department of Labor Thursday brought the total number of Ohio worker who have filed initial claims since the pandemic began 59 weeks ago to 3.282 million, more than the total of those filed from 2013 through 2019.
The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell last week to 498,000, the lowest point since the viral pandemic struck 14 months ago and a sign of the job market’s growing strength as businesses reopen and consumers step up spending.
The 235,647 Ohioans who claimed continuing benefits last week 70% fewer than the week of April 25, 2020.