Lakewood Board Of Education Votes On Reopening Plan

LAKEWOOD, OH — The Lakewood Schools administration and Lakewood Teachers Association have agreed on a new reopening plan.

The new agreement allows the district to offer three education models to families: in-person instruction (date to be determined), remote instruction, and eLearning LKWD. Students could be back in classrooms before the end of first semester on Dec. 17.

During an emergency Board of Education meeting on Wednesday evening, the board approved the new Memorandum of Understanding between the association and the administration. The motion was passed with only one reading. The meeting was not livestreamed on YouTube, like other meetings typically are.

“I want to thank the leadership of LTA and my administrative team for working together to come to an agreement on a plan that will best serve the needs of all our students,” said Superintendent Mike Barnes. “I also want to thank the Board of Education for providing its steady leadership.”

The issue of reopening Lakewood Schools buildings comes amid a period of controversy and division within the community. Previous board of education meetings have involved different parent groups arguing over whether it is safer to remain in remote education or to bring students back into classrooms.

Additionally, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health issued a "strong recommendation" on Wednesday for all K-12 schools and colleges to go completely remote following Thanksgiving break.

"The Lakewood Teachers Association urges Dr. Michael Barnes, who has the sole authority to make this decision, to keep the Lakewood City School District in its remote instructional model until an improved public health situation permits a return to our buildings," the Lakewood Teachers Association said in a statement to Patch.

Under the previous model, if the county is "red" or "purple" the district is in remote-only education. If Cuyahoga moves to "orange," the hybrid model will be implemented; and if the county is "yellow," classes can be held five days a week in school.

Cuyahoga County is currently "red" for its COVID-19 spread and Lakewood schools are remote only. "Purple" is the most severe designation a county can receive for its COVID-19 spread, but no county in Ohio has yet been classified as "purple."

Ohio is in the midst of an unprecedented COVID-19 surge, topping 8,000 cases in a single day last week. Gov. Mike DeWine has asked Ohio's colleges to remain remote following Thanksgiving break to try and curb the virus' spread. It's not yet clear if the governor will issue further mandates which might impact public schools.