March 28, 2020

Dear North Royalton City Schools’ Community,

I hope that everyone is doing well and adhering to the Governor’s order to stay home.  Our central office operations are considered an essential function under the stay at home order issued by the Governor.  With that, while we continue to give out meals to our families in need, we are complying with the Governor’s stay at home order. To the best of our ability, our District staff will be completing their tasks from home.   If you have any questions, please email me or call 440-237-8800 and leave a message. If you have questions concerning your child, please email your classroom teacher or building administrator directly. 

At this time, I have no indication when schools may be back in session.  The Governor has indicated that he anticipates keeping schools closed longer than the original return date of April 6, but he has made no decision on that yet.  I will keep you up to date with information as I receive it.  

Our staff will continue to work to provide lessons and activities that allow for learning to take place.  This may include video lessons, video conferencing and use of ProgressBook and Google Classroom for staff to deliver lessons.  All students should be participating in these lessons and completing and returning work as required. As I stated, with not knowing what the return to school date will be, the credit given for these assignments may be used to determine fourth quarter grades for students.  It is important that you make sure your child has logged in to their Google Classroom. If you have any issues, please contact the classroom teacher or principal.

I have communicated before that our spring break will remain April 10 through April 17, 2020.  There will be no instructional activities given to students during that time. As you know, our teachers have done a great job in getting up and running with virtual learning in the short amount of time they were given.  We will be utilizing spring break to allow our staff time to refocus and plan for the reminder of the school year in the event that schools will not be in session.  

On Wednesday, the legislature approved HB 197, which was a relief bill to deal with many facets of the COVID-19 virus.  Some of the items included in this piece of legislation are:

  • eliminates state and federal testing for the 2019-20 school year;
  • prohibits the issuance of state report card ratings for the 2019-20 school year and provides a one-year safe harbor from sanctions related to the report card;
  • freezes EdChoice eligibility at the 2019-20 list of 517 buildings;
  • permits students and their school-aged siblings who attended or would have attended a building on the 2019-20 eligibility list to receive a voucher;
  • waives the third-grade reading guarantee retention requirement;
  • permits schools to grant high school diplomas to students on track to graduate and for whom the principal determines that the student has successfully completed the curriculum;

I know there has been a lot of questions in regards to seniors and graduation requirements. With this new law, all seniors who were on track to graduate at the end of the third quarter will, indeed, graduate. I know our high school administration and counselors will be working with staff and students to determine the next steps for students who will still have to meet some graduation requirements. They will be in touch with those students and parents individually.

I am also very happy that the legislature provided temporary relief for the EdChoice program. While it does not “fix” the program, it reverts back to the previous provisions and takes North Royalton High School off the list. This will save our District an estimated $775,000. This is crucial now more than ever as the governor announced the other day that he is looking at a 20% decrease in state funding across the board. I don't know how this will affect our District at this time, but it is good that no additional money from the EdChoice voucher program will be leaving our District.  

Because HB 197 was just signed into law, we will be receiving more clarification and guidance in regards to the next steps in the days to come. I will continue to provide you updates as I receive information. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at greg.gurka@northroyaltonsd.org .

Thank you.

Greg Gurka
Superintendent
North Royalton City Schools