March 12, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
With the recent confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cuyahoga County, along with updates and recommendations from Governor DeWine, local, state, and national Departments of Health, I wanted to provide you with an update on our planning and responses in the North Royalton City Schools. This is truly a dynamic situation for community and school leaders and at this point, the focus is on containment of any possible infections and limiting exposure in event of more infections.
As a follow up to my correspondence from Friday, please note the following as it relates to the North Royalton Schools:
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 - NO SCHOOL FOR ALL STUDENTS PK-12
Previously, PK-4 students were not reporting to school due to elections being held in our elementary buildings. In order to be proactive in preparing for a possible extended closure of schools, on Tuesday, March 17, all students PK-12 will not report for school. Our staff will be collaborating and planning for electronic learning opportunities for scenarios where we would have to close schools. Although we will not be able to match the quality of learning that takes place in a face-to-face setting, we will do our best to utilize technology for blended learning and to keep our students engaged in relevant content.
At this time, State and County Board of Health recommendations are to keep PreK-12 schools open. The Ohio and Cuyahoga County Boards of Health would guide our next steps with school closures should local or area infections be detected.
Effective, Friday, March 13, 2020:
School-Related Evening Concerts, Activities, Events and Community Use of School Facilities
Out of an abundance of caution and in keeping with this current guidance, beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 13 through spring break, we are canceling all school-sponsored, after-school, large-group events and daytime school assemblies involving the public. We also are canceling all academic field trips through spring break. Decisions to cancel events that our students, staff, and community look forward to are difficult, but we are taking every precaution to keep our students safe and healthy.
Athletic practices and student-only after school meetings and rehearsals will continue to be held as scheduled until further notice. Additionally, the NRHS baseball and softball team spring break trips to South Carolina and the Royal Harmony spring break trip to New York City are still scheduled and will continue to be evaluated. The decision of the 8th grade Washington DC trip in May will also be evaluated as this situation progresses.
Click here
to see a list of postponed/cancelled events in the District. Best efforts will be made to reschedule, knowing that all events may not be able to happen. We will reassess events planned for after spring break and beyond and keep you informed.
Visitor Restrictions at All Buildings
Non-essential visitors will not have access to any of our buildings during the school day. This includes, but is not limited to, parent volunteers in the classroom, parents eating lunch with their children in the cafeteria, etc. Visitors required for meetings will be restricted to the meeting area only.
Parents who normally pick up children at the end of the day at each elementary building will be asked to sign students out from the sidewalk outside of each main entrance. Children will be brought to you by a staff member. Morning drop-off of students at all buildings will take place as usual with students walking into buildings from their vehicles without parents/adults.
As you know, voting will be taking place in our elementary buildings on Tuesday, March 17. We will clean and sanitize after the workers and voters leave.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Ohio Department of Health has established a Call Center, staffed by licensed nurses and infectious disease experts to answer questions regarding COVID-19 every day from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
This is a fluid situation and we will continue to communicate with you as this evolves. We anticipate further changes and adjustments to our procedures as this situation develops. Again, we are in contact with our local and state health agencies and will continue to follow their advice and recommendations, as it relates to school Districts and the health and safety of our students and staff. Any closure of a specific building or the District will be determined in collaboration with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
Greg Gurka
Superintendent
North Royalton City Schools
