March 11, 2020

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Dear Shaker Heights Schools Staff, Students and Families:

We are sending this email to provide a more detailed update regarding the District’s coronavirus response planning. We are also writing to inform you that, currently, there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus among our students and staff.

We continue to remain in close contact with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and county emergency management agencies to be proactive in our decision-making. Our Coronavirus Response Task Force meets daily to review health agency, government and media updates and develops plans accordingly. 

It is important to share the key factors that have guided our decision-making:

• Keeping schools open is essential. Our decision to keep schools open has been based on a variety of factors and one we have not made lightly. Like all public schools, Shaker Heights Schools provides necessary and critical services and support to our students and the broader community. For example, in addition to daily learning, many students and families rely on schools for child care, food services and other supports.  Closing schools will create a major disruption to our community and should be an action taken as a last resort. We are doing everything we can to mitigate the spread of coronavirus while keeping our schools open.  

• We are following the guidance from national, state and local health agencies regarding school closures. Both Governor Mike DeWine and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health are currently recommending that schools remain open. National, state and local health and government agencies, including the Shaker Heights City government have asked institutions to reduce or eliminate non-essential large-group gatherings.

• Our goal is to do what we can, as a school community, to reduce and/or slow the transmission of coronavirus. All guidance from health experts and agencies indicate that the best way to do this is to limit large-group gatherings and events, particularly those that include multigenerational groups. Older adults, in particular, are more susceptible to coronavirus and its effects. Larger evening events typically draw such audiences.

Read below for more information on: 

• Cancellation Updates

• Plans for Potential School Closures

• Handwashing

• Voting on March 17

Cancellation Updates

• Effective today, the District is canceling all school-sponsored international and domestic travel through April 1. We are making this decision out of an abundance of caution and based on guidance we have received from national, state and local health officials regarding the global coronavirus pandemic. Review the message here.

• Beginning Wednesday, March 11 through Saturday, March 21, the District has canceled all school-sponsored, large-group events and daytime school assemblies. We also are canceling all field trips through March 21. Cancellations do not currently include the City of Shaker Heights School Age Care program, athletic practices and after-school student clubs and activities. Please review this list of canceled events. 

• School lunch periods do not involve large groups of adults and there are few, if any, alternative options for providing this essential service. We encourage all students and staff to wash their hands before and after eating and to not share utensils and food.

• It has been noted that our high school boys basketball team was permitted to continue playing in the regional tournament. This tournament is hosted by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) and is not taking place on District property. The OHSAA, under the guidance of Governor Mike DeWine, determined that the tournament was permitted to continue with students only allowed to bring a small number of immediate family members as spectators to games. We have no other OHSAA-sanctioned competitions scheduled to take place on District property between now and March 21.

Plans for Potential School Closures

• District administrators and the Coronavirus Response Task Force have been developing a plan to address potential school closures. The plan will address different closure options and includes designating the March 17 Professional Day as a planning day for teachers to prepare student learning resources and instruction in the event that conditions necessitate a school closure.

• The Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Integrated Student Supports submitted a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding meal service to children during unanticipated school closures. The state is attempting to obtain a waiver in order to allow schools to provide meals to students eligible for free and reduced meals in cases of school closure. The District is in touch with state officials to incorporate this into our planning.

• State government and education officials are discussing contingency plans for state testing. This includes potentially modifying state testing schedules if schools are closed for an extended period.

Handwashing

• We have reminded our faculty and staff to provide students with ample opportunities to wash their hands during the school day. Health professionals recommend washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing; using the restroom; and before eating or preparing food. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content.  

Voting on March 17

• Voting in the March 17 primary is currently scheduled to take place as planned in designated polling locations at the Middle School, Woodbury, Lomond and Mercer.

Please continue to refer to our webpage, Coronavirus Preparedness and Response, for the most recent list of updates and cancellations. 

Sincerely,