Heights Schools Plan Reopening, Teachers Union Opposes Reopening

UPDATE — Now that Cuyahoga County has been classified as "red" for its COVID-19 spread, Superintendent Elizabeth Kirby is meeting with local health officials to discuss the implications of reopening. Further discussion on the matter will be held during the Oct. 20 Board of Education meeting.

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — The Heights Schools are planning a limited return to in-person education starting Nov. 4, the district announced.

Students in grades K-12 will have the option to return to school two days a week. The rest of the week will be spent in remote education. Students can also remain in remote-only education.

Preschool students will have the option to return to in-person classes four days a week.

"If you decide to keep your child in the fully remote learning model for Quarter 2, we ask that you please submit this form by Saturday, October 24. You will need your student’s ID number to submit the form. This is available in your Infinite Campus account and in my October 13th email. Please call your child's school should you need assistance," the district said in a statement online.

The official plans for reopening will be discussed during the Oct. 20 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Elizabeth Kirby said in a letter to families.

The Cleveland Heights Teachers Union President Karen Rego said she opposes reopening the district.

"The union's position from the beginning is that we main remote until at least January. We believe this is the only way to stay safe and slow the spread," she told Patch in an email.

The Heights Teachers Union initially pushed for a remote-only education model to start the school year. Representatives for the union said they did not trust the district to properly sanitize buildings.