CLEVELAND — The new school year is certainly getting off to a much different start. Many school bus stops are empty. Classrooms are quiet. Lunchrooms are vacant.
As Tuesday marks the first day of school for thousands of students in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland schools are among the districts starting their year with remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is a new world for every one of us, and we have to go into this with the spirit of we’re going to figure this out," said Eric Gordon, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. "We’re going to help kids be successful, families be successful and their teachers to be successful as well.”
CMSD distributed a letter to parents Monday with their "welcome back" plan.
"Remote learning is new to all of us: Students, parents and teachers alike," the letter states. "I have urged our educators to take our time this week to help all of us ease into this new way of learning. I’ve asked teachers to take time to help students and families with connectivity issues, with learning these new platforms, settling into good school routines and making sure that we all gain some comfort with how school is going to work this year before jumping straight into the learning content."
The district has created a back-to-school checklist for parents that provides links to resources that can help students with their new remote-learning routines. You can see that checklist HERE.
CMSD also said it will complete device distribution this week.
"If your child does not yet have a device and you don't know when you can pick one up from your school, please contact your school directly," CMSD's letter said.
Meal plans are also available.
"As a community, COVID-19 has caused an extreme amount of rapid change, and change often creates an added amount of stress and anxiety, and sometimes, added fear or anger. I encourage each of you to give yourself permission to do the best you can and not be afraid to ask for help. Together, over the course of this week, we will formally make the shift into this remote learning environment."