NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio — As COVID-19 numbers rise in the state, parents in one Northeast Ohio district say they are being put in a tough spot as schools shift plans for in-person learning.
While everyone is willing to acknowledge that school leaders are in a tough spot, left to make the call on whether students return to the classroom or not, some parents in North Royalton are just fed up.
"Cities that surround us that are back full-time or at least part of the schools are back full-time and we are not even in a hybrid state anymore," says parent Christine Koprowski.
She has two students who attend North Royalton City Schools. They made the call to move back to an all-virtual environment after cases in Ohio began to crest again. But right next door, Strongsville City Schools, also in Cuyahoga County, decided to bring all of its students back to the classroom.
It's enough to frustrate Koprowski and other parents.
"Restaurants are open, stores are open, bars are open you know," Koprowski says. "But our schools that are the most crucial to getting the education for our children… Why are we not back in school?"
She says she's seen virtual learning take a mental toll on her children. And her biggest frustration with the district is not having any other option.
"You know there's plenty of students that in their families feel like that's best for them to stay at home and let them do the virtual teaching. That's OK. All we are asking for is a choice for our children what's best for our family," Koprowski adds.
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health offers guidance to schools, but doesn't provide a blanket set of rules. That means one district may decide the benefits of in-person learning outweigh the risks of coronavirus.
We reached out to North Royalton's administration about their decision to not offer an in-school alternative, but haven't heard back. Bottom line, district leaders are in a tough spot having to make decisions in what is really a no-win situation.