District outlines remote learning

Lorain City Schools students will have a variety of schedules, more technology and increased food service when classes resume on Sept. 8.

On Aug. 24, the Lorain Schools board of education heard the latest version of the “Open with Care” plan to resume lessons remotely due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Board members Mark Ballard, Bill Sturgill, Yvonne Johnson, Courtney Nazario and Timothy Williams spent about an hour considering details of the plan for the 2020-2021 school year.

Ross May, district executive director of strategic planning, process and data, led the presentation, with CEO/Superintendent Jeff Graham, communications consultant Erin Graham and other top administrators covering the 39-page

document and research behind it.

Online or in person?

“Our goal is to have our students and staff back in our schools to resume learning in person,” the document said. “As such, we will be constantly assessing local health and safety conditions to determine when in-person education can resume while protecting the health of our students, staff and community.”

Until the in-person learning can resume, Lorain will have online coursework for grades pre-K to 12, with a focus on protecting the most vulnerable children and adults.

If public health conditions get better, Jeff Graham noted the district administration does not have to make decisions in nineweek increments, so students could return sooner than the end of the first quarter.

If conditions do not improve, Lorain City Schools will continue remote learning as long as needed to keep people safe.

Due to childcare and work, Lorain Schools aims to give families at least a month’s notice to prepare for changes, May said.

Academics

For all grade levels, the Phase 1 “Remote for All”

learning will have teachers post class expectations for student participation and assignments.

Google Classroom will be the program for students to tune in. Work will be graded and there will be virtual quizzes and tests to track progress, according to the plan.

The teachers also will use the computer programs to take attendance.

“Open with Care” includes schoolday schedules that vary by grade levels.

For example, Lorain High School students will start their days at 8:45 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.

Real-time learning with teachers will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with “asynchronous” learning, or students reviewing online lessons at their own pace, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Middle school students will use alternating days with real-time learning on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and independent learning on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Elementary students will daily meetings and minibreaks, with art, music, physical education, library and computer times in the afternoons. Teachers will have office hours and offer student support in the afternoons.

Tech

Technology distribution will start this week, scheduled by school.

Students in pre-K to first grade will receive iPads.

Older students will use laptop computers and families will receive internet or wifi hotspots if needed.

A computer help desk will be available by calling 440-830-HELP, or 440830-4357, or 440-830-4088 for Spanish language services.

Communication

Lorain Schools will continue to use email, Google Classroom, the Class Dojo program and telephone calls to communicate with students’ families.

Teachers and administrators will strive to respond to parent or guardian inquiries within 24 hours.

Information also will be published on lorainschools.org, emailed newsletters, prerecorded phone calls, social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, and local news media. Lorain Schools TV20 also records meetings of the school board and Academic Distress Commission.

Food service

Lorain Schools will expand food services this fall for students to get meals on 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Longfellow, Southview and General Johnnie Wilson middle schools.

Nine sites for meal deliveries will grow to 36, at school bus stops, in the fall.

The meals will be only for Lorain City Schools students, for five school days a week.