As is the case in many Greater Cincinnati school districts, COVID-19 is causing headaches for students and teachers in the Mount Healthy City School District."I feel like right now everybody's just trying to make the best decision, and there's really no good decision to make," Samantha Pryor said. "It's lose-lose, no matter what you're doing."Pryor's niece is a Mt. Healthy sixth grader. While working at the Dairy Bar Friday on Hamilton Avenue, Pryor talked about a plan Mt. Healthy school leaders announced - to send students home in three weeks so they can learn remotely while cleaning crews sanitize school buildings."They're just trying to do what's best," Pryor said.WLWT investigator Todd Dykes asked Mt. Healthy school administrator Dr. Apollos Harris why what the district is calling an eight-day "Remote Learning Event" isn't starting now."Are we at a crucial point right now that we have to shut down? No," Harris said. "But looking at our trend data and seeing how we're moving, we understand, we're kind of hit that tipping point."Harris said says even though masks are required in the district, quarantine rates are rising. Having students learn from home for a stretch in mid-October, a stretch that includes two previously scheduled off-days, should help Mt. Healthy schools avoid shutting down completely, which Harris said would be a serious setback for kids."We have made great strides since the beginning of the school year, and we don't want to lose them," he said. "And because of that, we're preparing them, like 'Hey, it's eight days.' And some people might say, 'It’s 8 days!' No, those 8 days we still want you fully engaged."Harris said Mt. Healthy students use their Chromebooks every day, so forgetting passwords while at home won't be acceptable."When a student says, 'I didn't have anything today,' parents can be, like, 'That's not true,'" Harris said.When mount healthy students go back to class after the remote learning event, they will be just three weeks away from Thanksgiving break. After that comes Christmas, indicating district leaders think trying to time when kids are away from school will help maximize the number of hours they can spend learning in person.
As is the case in many Greater Cincinnati school districts, COVID-19 is causing headaches for students and teachers in the Mount Healthy City School District.
"I feel like right now everybody's just trying to make the best decision, and there's really no good decision to make," Samantha Pryor said. "It's lose-lose, no matter what you're doing."
Pryor's niece is a Mt. Healthy sixth grader. While working at the Dairy Bar Friday on Hamilton Avenue, Pryor talked about a plan Mt. Healthy school leaders announced - to send students home in three weeks so they can learn remotely while cleaning crews sanitize school buildings.
"They're just trying to do what's best," Pryor said.
WLWT investigator Todd Dykes asked Mt. Healthy school administrator Dr. Apollos Harris why what the district is calling an eight-day "Remote Learning Event" isn't starting now.
"Are we at a crucial point right now that we have to shut down? No," Harris said. "But looking at our trend data and seeing how we're moving, we understand, we're kind of hit that tipping point."
Harris said says even though masks are required in the district, quarantine rates are rising. Having students learn from home for a stretch in mid-October, a stretch that includes two previously scheduled off-days, should help Mt. Healthy schools avoid shutting down completely, which Harris said would be a serious setback for kids.
"We have made great strides since the beginning of the school year, and we don't want to lose them," he said. "And because of that, we're preparing them, like 'Hey, it's eight days.' And some people might say, 'It’s 8 days!' No, those 8 days we still want you fully engaged."
Harris said Mt. Healthy students use their Chromebooks every day, so forgetting passwords while at home won't be acceptable.
"When a student says, 'I didn't have anything today,' parents can be, like, 'That's not true,'" Harris said.
When mount healthy students go back to class after the remote learning event, they will be just three weeks away from Thanksgiving break. After that comes Christmas, indicating district leaders think trying to time when kids are away from school will help maximize the number of hours they can spend learning in person.
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