The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
District to require masks indoors
New computers, sports tickets up for discussion as officials talk about ways to include senior citizens, families and to increase respectfulness
Lorain City Schools will require masks for students, faculty and staff for the next eight weeks because COVID-19 cases began creeping up in the first week of classes.
The school board and top administrators are encouraging but not mandating teachers, support staff and eligible students to get the shots against the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Lorain City School District began classes with staggered starting days last week. But the pandemic precautions dominated discussion in the regular board meeting of Aug. 24.
For the next eight weeks, masks will be mandatory for anyone in a Lorain Schools building. Teachers may remove their face coverings when lecturing.
As of Aug. 24, the district had 77 students and staff in isolation or quarantine due to exposure or a positive test, according to figures presented by Jeff Keruski, executive director of family and community relations.
There were 47 students in quarantine.
Garfield Elementary led the district with 14 cases; nine of those were from exposure in the school cafeteria. Helen Steiner Rice Elementary followed with 13, with nine of those due to exposure from outside of school.
At the low end, Frank Jacinto and Hawthorne elementary schools and the Success Academy reported no cases.
The figures prompted more than 40 minutes of discussion with CEO/Superintendent Jeff Graham
asking for guidance from board members Mark Ballard, Bill Sturgill, Courtney Nazario and Timothy Williams.
Along with masks for the elementary schools, the administrators and teachers are trying to keep students at least three feet apart when possible. But the cafeteria is one of the least controllable places and students must take off face coverings to eat, Graham said.
The board could enact a policy requiring masks or online learning for students not wearing them, Graham said, but that would lead to very choppy education coming off a very choppy 20202021 school year.
Based on the numbers of outside exposures, it appeared Lorain Schools would have gotten the same number of cases regardless of students, or everyone, wearing masks, Nazario said.
It appeared students and teachers generally
were wearing their masks at General Johnnie Wilson Middle School and Lorain High School, Nazario said, citing her own family’s experience.
The board members discussed getting ahead of the trend of increasing COVID-19 cases. They noted Lorain Schools no longer has a rigorous testing system for the disease and student athletes are practicing in close contact, but without masks.
Sturgill proposed the eight-week period with mandatory masks and updates at every board meeting.
In public discussion, parent Alexis Garza called for all students to have a new round of instruction on cross-contamination. That includes proper wearing of masks, other personal protective equipment and avoiding touching their faces.
Students should be washing their hands more frequently
instead of using hand sanitizer, even if that takes more time in the day, Garza said.
It’s touchy for people to disclose whether they are vaccinated and it should be private, Garza said. If the district collects that information, it would remain confidential, the school officials said.
Williams emphasized the school officials are emphasizing all eligible people should get the vaccines, but not requiring it.
School computers
The board voted 4-0 to spend more than $2.22 million to buy new Macbook computers for staff.
The district’s technology initiatives are based on simplicity and resiliency, said Drew Stevens, information technology director for the district.
Students in grades two to 12 will have Chromebook computers this year; all but 300 or so have been given
out. Younger students will use iPad tablets.
The district will pay for the new hardware with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief money, known as the ESSER funding for pandemic relief, Stevens said.
Sports tickets
Sporting event ticket sales will remain available online and in person, according to a board policy vote 4-0.
Last year schools went to online ticket sales only due to COVID-19, said Athletic Director Bryan Koury.
The district offers online ticket sales that literally can be faster than exchanging money and a paper ticket at the gate, he said.
This year, students also can buy paper tickets to games after school.
Three of four volunteers who previously worked the ticket booths will not return this year, Koury said.
But only offering online
sales creates a barrier for people who don’t have computers or mobile devices or are intimidated using one for that purchase, said Williams and Sturgill.
Having more senior adults to Lorain sporting events leads to more community engagement and students becoming more respectful to the parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles attending events, Ballard said.
The board members agreed they and Koury would continue researching the best methods for ticket sales.
The ticket prices vary, but for 2021-2022 top out at $6 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens for Lorain High School doubleheader, tripleheader and standalone varsity contests. Children age 10 or younger get in free with an adult.