Mentor Schools makes complete shift to remote learning

Mentor Public Schools will transition all its schools to fully remote learning starting Nov. 23 through at least Dec. 4 amid rising novel coronavirus cases in Lake County.

According to a news release from Superintendent Bill Porter, the decision was made due to the severe increase in coronavirus cases in the city of Mentor, which has one of the highest incidence rates in the state.

Porter stated that they did not reach this conclusion lightly, but the schools are experiencing hundreds of students and dozens of staff members going into self-quarantine due to either testing positive for COVID-19 or being exposed to someone who did. The number of people in quarantine has affected their staffing and therefore the ability to remain open for in-person classes.

He added that he believed this was the best way for Mentor Schools to do their part to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Porter said that although he believes the district has done well with mitigation strategies to prevent community spread within the schools, they cannot control what happens outside of the school buildings.

Mentor High School has been fully remote since Nov. 12.

According to Mentor Schools’ Director of Community Relations Kristen Kirby, all in-person extracurricular activities, including all sports, have been put on pause since Nov. 12.

Por ter stated that school officials will continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in the community and will revisit the decision the week following Thanksgiving.