Willoughby-Eastlake Schools navigates the new norm

By Patricia Nugent

On Monday, August 31, students in Willoughby-Eastlake Schools made their way back to school, whether wearing a mask on a bus or in a classroom, or via a remote online learning setting.

To help people make the best educational decisions during these uncertain times, the administration reached out and received input from students, parents, teachers and the community before coming up with the plan for returning to school.

“We’re doing the best we can with the information we have,” says Superintendent Steve Thompson.

Based on the input received from all interested parties, to best facilitate those who chose online learning, the district purchased a new platform called Schoology, with enhanced functionality like online conferencing and virtual interaction between teachers and students.

What Would Cause Schools to Close?
“In elementary schools, our protocol is if a student or staff member is exposed to Covid-19 in one self-contained classroom, that classroom would be quarantined for 14 days, automatically moving to remote learning,” says Superintendent Thompson. “If we have a case in an elementary school with two separate classrooms that have exposure, the entire building will be quarantined for 14 days, moving to remote learning. In the middle schools and high schools, which differ because of the way a student progresses through the day, if one student or staff member is exposed to Covid-19, all the classes and students would be quarantined for 14 days.”

Not being able to staff the buildings due to increased absenteeism caused by the pandemic is another reality that might trigger building closure.

When it comes to fall sports, although the pandemic situation is fluid, the current news is game on. According to an order from the Ohio Department of Health, spectators should follow ticketing policies for North and South High Schools’ football, soccer and volleyball teams. Spectator tickets can be reserved online for family or household members only, and families should sit together, physically distanced from other families.

“We hope that you stay safe and stay well,” says Superintendent Thompson. “And if we work together, we’ll be strong,”

Look for these monthly stories to cover topics from grades K-12 in the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools System. For updates and details, visit WESchools.org.