Remote learning extended through Jan. 8

Mentor Schools Superintendent Bill Porter announced that the district will continue remote learning through at least Jan. 8, aiming to return to hybrid instruction on Jan. 11.

The district had previously shifted to fully remote learning on Nov. 23 due to rising levels of COVID-19 cases both in the schools and surrounding communities.

Porter said in a news release that Lake County’s Health Commissioner Ron Graham supported the decision to keep remote learning in place for the near future.

Lake County reached level 4, or the purple level, on Ohio’s COVID-19 Public Health Advisory System as of Nov. 25 — which means cases in Lake County have only continued to rise and put a strain on local hospitals since Mentor Schools initially announced they would be transitioning from hybrid to fully remote learning.

Porter encouraged families in the district to comply with coronavirus mitigation guidelines so that they could successfully return to a hybrid model on Jan. 11.

“What has proven to be true since the beginning of the school year is our schools will reflect what is happening in our greater community when it comes to the number of COVID-19 cases that arise. The Lake County General Health District is recommending people stay home as much as possible and avoid large gatherings among other advisories,” Porter said.

“We hope you will do everything you and your family can to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as we can all work together toward improving conditions so we can re-open our schools for in-person learning following the holidays.”

Mentor Schools’ Director of Community Relations Kirsten Kirby said that they do not

“What has proven to be true since the beginning of the school year is our schools will reflect what is happening in our greater community when it comes to the number of COVID-19 cases that arise. The Lake County General Health District is recommending people stay home as much as possible and avoid large gatherings among other advisories,” —Bill Porter, Mentor Schools Superintendent

know yet if remote learning will need to be extended beyond the beginning of January, but she said school officials will continue closely monitoring coronavirus data in their community.