Lakewood Schools Reopening Plan Could Vary By Building

LAKEWOOD, OH — The Lakewood Schools will change their reopening plan based on the city's and the county's COVID-19 spread, district officials said this week.

The district announced Wednesday its reopening plan would be married to the state's public health advisory system, which grades counties by level and color for their COVID-19 spread. If the virus' spread worsens in Cuyahoga County, Lakewood Schools will move toward remote learning.

Maggie Niedzwiecki, assistant superintendent for Lakewood Schools, said individual school buildings could also have specific health and safety protocols implemented in the event of an outbreak.

"We may need to adjust and adapt often," she said. "With these protocols in place, we could have one school building at a Level 4 (remote learning only), but the rest of the district could be at a Level 2 or 3 (hybrid remote and in-person learning)."

She said local and county data will influence what health and safety protocols will be implemented. Niedzwiecki added that water fountains will be closed, masks will always be required and other changes may be implemented based on different health scenarios.

"We will continue to add to our list of safety protocols and precautions," Niedzwiecki said.

Here's what the district's reopening plan will look like:

• If Cuyahoga County is at Level 1 (yellow rating) the district will use the "All in" model — Students will be in school five days a week, following safety protocols and spaced 3 feet apart at all times
• Level 2 and Level 3 (orange and red) the district will use the "Partial" model — Students will be in school every other day
  • Attendance will be based on a student's last name (students with last names beginning with letters A-K in school one day, students with last names beginning with letters L-Z in school the next day)
• Level 4 (purple) rating — All students will have remote learning

Cuyahoga County is currently at Level 3, meaning there is a "very high" rate of COVID-19 spread locally.

Families will have the option to choose a remote learning model for either one semester or the entire 2020-2021 school year.