Some Lakewood Schools Students Meeting In-Person Already

LAKEWOOD, OH — Students in need of in-person instruction are receiving it throughout the Lakewood Schools, Superintendent Michael Barnes confirmed Monday.

The district opened its "access points" two weeks ago, giving students a chance to come to school buildings and receive in-person instruction or aid.

"We've seen some really good outcomes from our students being supported," Barnes said. "These are going to continue and we're excited about those."

Several of the West Shore programs have also been engaging in in-person instruction, the superintendent said. Programs that require hands-on experience, specifically programs that lead to licensure in that field, are meeting in-person.

"We're excited about that as well," he said.

Board of Education President Emma Petrie Barcelona said the district has done a wonderful job of implementing remote-only education. However, she said students throughout Lakewood are also struggling to succeed in this pandemic-changed environment.

"We have a lot of students who are having a lot of challenges," she said. "We have a lot of families that are really suffering right now."

She emphasized that everyone is living through the pandemic differently and she urged Lakewood residents to respect each other and try to understand their neighbor's circumstances.