The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
SAVORY ’N SWEET
Spectrum School, Catering continue in pandemic
From pre-K education to job training after high school, Spectrum Consulting Services is finding ways to adapt to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the company’s leaders say.
Spectrum Consulting Services has several ventures based in downtown Lorain, including Spectrum Resource Center & School inside the City Center, 300 Broadway.
Like so many other schools and businesses, COVID-19 has changed procedures — but education has not stopped, said Christy Reed, who founded Spectrum Consulting with Cheryl Weber in 2004.
Spectrum Consulting
Services’ vocational training program still is developing to teach job skills to students who finish high school and are preparing to enter the workforce.
Reed discussed the work with Gail Stephanchick, Spectrum manager of business operations, and Joyce Rhodes, bookkeeper and meal coordinator for Spectrum Catering.
"Our students do much better hands on than they’re ever going to do with a computer screen.” — Gail Stephanchick
Spectrum School has about 224 students in classrooms up and down the three floors of the City Center.
Students come from Lorain, Erie, Cuyahoga and Medina counties, with Spectrum School offering door-to-door transportation.
During the shelter-inplace order starting in March 2020, Spectrum began distance learning as required by the state.
But many students and parents wanted to return, she said.
“Our students do much better hands on than they’re ever going to do with a computer screen,” Stephanchick said.
But, she credited the hard work of staff for customizing bags with learning materials for students’ individualized education plans.
“We’ve got some top notch people here, let me tell you,” Stephanchick said.
Classes resume
For the 2020-2021 school year, parents have the option of going to virtual learning at any time.
Students in distance learning may come back for in-person classes at quarter breaks.
Reed estimated the inperson preference runs as high as 80 percent and Spectrum gained a few students likely due to availability of lessons at school instead of online.
“There’s some kids that are just excelling in virtual,” Reed said. “They don’t do that well socially, so I probably have a handful that are doing just great, but that’s it. Just a handful.”
Spectrum School follows a regimen of health precautions needed to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Before school, bus drivers take temperatures of students at pickup.
Students wear masks and face shields and there is “sanitizer everywhere” in the building, Reed said.
In 2020, there were four classrooms locked up for 10 days for cleaning due to COVID-19 positive tests among students.
Six staff members also have tested positive, but none since resuming classes Jan. 4, Reed said.
Cooking up success
Spectrum Consulting opened the Spectrum Vocational Center in 2018 to fill the employment gap for young adults with autism spectrum disorder.
Older students learn job skills in the City Center, 713 W. Fifth St. in downtown Lorain, which features a commercial-grade kitchen and banquet space to support Spectrum Catering.
“They’re great, they set up our venues, they set up our tables, they roll the silverware, they help in the kitchen, the chef over there was teaching them knife skills,” Rhodes said. “These are some of our kids that are going to be transitioning out of our program, and we want them to be able to function in the outside world and possibly get a job.”
Meals delivered
Pre-pandemic, the Vocational Center hosted monthly meetings of the Lorain Growth Corp.
Spectrum Catering began scooping up breakfast, lunch and dinner orders for gatherings around Lorain.
It was the preferred caterer for events at the Antlers Grand Ballroom, 300 Washington Ave., which has a stage and holds up to 200 guests with space for a buffet, music and dancing.
During the pandemic, Spectrum Catering started delivering meals for four, Stephanchick said.
Based on customer demand, that was scaled back to meals for two, delivered around Lorain County, for $12.95, a business that has continued from fall 2020 to now.
“We have a lot of people, children that are calling about their elderly parents, and they’re buying them dinners a week at a time so that they know that they are fed during this pandemic,” Rhodes said.
Spectrum Catering posts weekly menus online and there will be a special Valentine’s
Day dinner.
Orders can be placed by calling 440-752-1057.
Eats and treats
The Spectrum Cafe remains open inside the City Center.
Its lunch menu also is posted weekly online.
Across the street, the Ariel Broadway Hotel, 301 Broadway, opened in March 2020, just before Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine issued the shutdown orders to slow the pandemic.
Inside the hotel, Spectrum Consulting Services has opened Broadway Boutique & Treats.
It has Lorain-themed T-shirts, soft drinks and snacks for hotel patrons.
Faroh’s Finest
It also is home to Spectrum Presents Faroh’s Finest Chocolates, made from recipes of Lorain candymaker Tom Faroh.
The store had a bump in business for Christmas candy orders locally and by mail.
Spectrum had its own popular — and reasonably priced — cocoa bombs, chocolate spheres filled with powdered cocoa, marshmallows and candy to mix with hot milk.
There also are pet toys made by students and dog treats sold to support Spectrum School.
Stephanchick credited the efforts of Jerrica Wilson, retail store manager, who started in late 2020.
“She’s really working hard to make it something,” Stephanchick said.
Gym stays closed
In 2019, Spectrum Consulting Services added a building to downtown Lorain with its new gym at 301 W. Erie Ave., next to the City Center.
In February last year, North Pointe Ballet instructors began rehearsing there with Spectrum students so they could participate in the troupe’s spring recital.
The ballet was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, which also forced cancelation of last year’s Spectrum Autism Walk in May.
That event would have served as the public grand opening for the gym.
The gymnasium theoretically could be used for student physical education.
But if that happened, that would require more gloves, masks, sanitizer and disinfectant, and staff time to clean, Reed said.
“We always had that stuff, but not to the degree that’s right now,” she said. “Plus, gym with a mask on, I don’t imagine would be a lot of fun.”