Padua Franciscan High School ahead of curve with pandemic-related instruction

PARMA — COVID-19 continues to challenge administrators into making tough decisions about remote, hybrid or full in-person learning as it relates to students getting an education during a pandemic. So far Padua Franciscan High School has been ahead of the curve. While the Cuyahoga County Board of Health recommended schools begin the 2020-2021 year remotely, Padua Franciscan High School Principal David Stec said the State Road school successfully started out in a hybrid model before going to traditional five-day, in-person instruction earlier this month. "It's been an interesting ride, but we're good," Stec said. "As long as things stay on course, we're doing great. We're able to respond no matter what happens. "When the board of health came out with their recommendations not to open school, we felt that wasn't not the best for all of our students — at least from a social-emotional point of view, nor learning. So we quickly adapted a new plan for our hybrid learning. Then on Oct. 12 we did come back to full school." The principal noted the school would have been fully in-person earlier had a gas line replacement involving the cafeteria kept the students — who had to brown bag their lunches — in hybrid learning. Unlike the vast majority of Northeast Ohio school districts using the color-coded state public health advisory system, which currently finds Cuyahoga County in red or level 3, to inform remote, hybrid or full in-person learning decisions, Padua Franciscan High School's pandemic plan doesn't rely on the county designation. That's why — despite Cuyahoga County moving up from level 2 to 3 last week — Padua is sticking to its in-person instruction. "We'll continue to monitor the situation and can quickly transition back to a hybrid model if deemed appropriate," Stec said. "The administrative team checks in every person coming to school to make sure they're symptom free. "That's actually a nice way to start the day to look people in the eye and say, 'Good morning.' I've enjoyed that part of all of this." Padua Franciscan High School is also adhering to safety protocols such as social distancing when possible, one-way stairwells and hallways, constant desk cleaning and scattered dismissal times. "It's really worked out well, students get it," Stec said. "Now, unfortunately, people are going to get sick and the plans are such that when that happens we have to quickly respond so we can quarantine with those students learning remotely." So far Padua Franciscan High School had reported numerous students who after testing positive were quarantined. Stec said this forced the school to remain flexible and creative. This included hosting senior-only socially-distanced events such as homecoming court, which was livestreamed to the school's other students. Also, roughly 15 percent of Padua Franciscan High School's 760 students have chosen to remain in remote learning for the first quarter. Stec said he remains committed to thinking about not only today but tomorrow regarding the operation of Padua Franciscan High School during a pandemic. "We can't lose sight of the importance of relationships in the midst of education," Stec said. "We've always believed people are the educators of our students, not just books or videos, We do need to learn how to live with this for a little bit while longer. "We need to continue to be very flexible and creative to ensure that our students are safe and healthy, because when this all ends people need to be able to move forward. They need to have a strong foundation of both education and life skills they can build on." ___ (c)2020 The Plain Dealer, Cleveland Visit The Plain Dealer, Cleveland at www.cleveland.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.