CHESTERLAND, Ohio — The COVID-19 pandemic is adding an extra layer of stress as parents and students gear up for the first day of a new academic year.
“I feel like we didn’t have enough time to make a decision I know it seems like we had three months but it went by so fast and no one really knows what’s happening there’s so much uncertainty right now so it’s really hard to make the decisions,” explains parent Shelly Steinmetz.
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She has a 5th grader at Lindsey Elementary school in Chesterland. Although all students in the West Geauga School District will start the first three weeks of the semester online, Steinmetz has chosen to continue the virtual option when in-person learning starts after Labor Day.
“My husband is a first responder but we’re already kind of, we already had a COVID scare, I don’t want to go through that again,” she says.
District leaders tell 3News, when in-person instruction begins on September 8th, students will be seated six feet apart and the number of children in a classroom will be based on square footage.
Hand sanitizing stations will be outside of each classroom and there will be a daily deep cleaning.
About 70 percent of families have chosen in-person learning. Those who opt for virtual instruction instead, will have time with a teacher as well as on their own in order to decrease screen time.
Lindsey Elementary School Parent Tara Baughner is choosing in-person learning for her 3rd and 5th graders.
Her children play sports and she feels it’s good for them to get back into the classroom with their friends.
“It feels different, I’ve got to be honest, I wasn’t’ happy with the three weeks starting virtual because I did choose in-person and I do work so that’s going to be difficult however it was kind of a relief today that I didn’t have to think of like a new school outfit and getting him on the bus,” she laughs.