Euclid Schools announces return-to-learning plan

The safety and education of Euclid's children are the Euclid City School District’s top priorities. Using community and teacher survey feedback, guidance from Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Education, and working with our teachers, principals, administrators, Superintendent Chris Papouras provided a return-to-learning to the Board of Education and the community on Monday, July 20th.

Public Health Alert System

The Euclid City School District will use Governor DeWine’s Public Health Advisory System in determining our return-to-learning plans, and to update plans throughout the 2020-21 school year. Cuyahoga County’s current advisory level is “Level 3”. At this level, our leadership believes the in-person/hybrid learning model is the safest for our students, educators, and community. 

Under the current plan, our Preschool - 8th graders will be grouped into two cohorts. Both cohorts will physically attend school two days per week, and participate in virtual learning on the three remaining days when they are not in classrooms.

Families wishing to participate in an online-only option will have the ability to register their child(ren) for instruction in the Euclid Virtual Learning Academy (EVLA). The EVLA will be staffed with dedicated ECSD teachers, unlike other online options. Families wishing to enroll in EVLA can do so by visiting euclidschools.org and clicking the “Infinite Campus Parent Portal” in the top-right corner of the website. 

Euclid High School students will participate in virtual learning, with the ability to receive scheduled, one-on-one assistance from educators online Monday - Friday, and for scheduled in-person assistance at Euclid High School on Fridays. 

Preschool through Grade 8 plan

The plan includes a combination of in-person and online learning for our Preschool through Grade 8 students.This plan will include two learning “cohorts” with the first cohort attending school in person on Mondays and Wednesdays, and the second cohort attending school in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On the three days when students are not physically in a school building, learning will continue at home with lessons and assignments. Siblings will be placed in the same cohort so they can follow the same schedule.

The buildings will be thoroughly cleaned on a daily basis. Students will be provided with a Euclid Schools cloth mask, and will be asked to bring it to school daily to wear while in the buildings. If a student forgets their mask, we will provide them with a disposable mask. We encourage families to do daily temperature and safety checks, but each of our buildings will be outfitted with video-thermal scanners to allow rapid temperature checks as students enter school buildings. Students with fevers over 100 degrees and Covid-19 symptoms will be placed in a Health Safety Containment Room - for the safety of other students and educators. 

Transportation will continue to be provided to students who live more than two miles from their school. Our drivers and riders will follow health and safety guidelines.

High School plan

EHS students will learn in a structured, scheduled, online learning environment. This will prepare our students for the post-secondary and online college experience, and it allows the ability to maintain course offerings.

Recognizing that students benefit from one-to-one instruction and assistance, EHS teachers will be available Monday - Friday for online assistance. A number of teachers will also be available on Fridays for scheduled, in-person assistance at the high school. Students will be required to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines for their scheduled visits.

Career Tech programs will meet in-person under controlled safety practices, both on campus and with district partners. More details will be provided as plans are finalized.    

Euclid Virtual Learning Academy (online learning option for PreK-8 families)

The Euclid Virtual Learning Academy will be an option to our Prek-8 families who prefer to have their child(ren) learn in an online environment. This rigorous online program will follow the Ohio Learning Standards curriculum and students will be provided with the full complement of district resources, such as technology, books, and workbooks. The Euclid Virtual Learning Academy will be customized to students’ ability through online platforms.

With dedicated Euclid Schools teachers working virtually with students, ECSD knows Euclid Virtual Learning Academy will be the superior online option for students. Each student who signs up for online learning will be assigned a Euclid teacher with the proper content and grade-level Ohio Teacher Licensures and credentials. While ECSD, and health associations such as the American Association of Pediatrics, believe in-person learning is best for students, the Euclid Virtual Learning Academy will be a quality alternative to families who prefer to keep their students at home. 

Families who opt-in will be asked to use the online learning option for at least a marking period. The deadline to sign up for Euclid Virtual Learning Academy is July 31, but district representatives will review applications coming in after July 31 on a case-by case basis.

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Volume 11, Issue 8, Posted 6:26 PM, 08.10.2020