Heights Schools Plan March 1 Reopening, Union Rips Decision

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — The Heights Schools will partially reopen on March 1, per an agreement with state officials.

Gov. Mike DeWine agreed to release the COVID-19 vaccine to school teachers and staff only if their districts agreed to reopen, in some form, by March 1. The Heights Schools made the decision to end remote-only education to get staffers the vaccine. But the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union lambasted the decision.

"Teachers want to be back with their students. However, we do not want to be back in an environment that we know is unsafe. Unless the vaccine is readily available and infection numbers are trending sharply downwards we should not even discuss returning in person," Teachers Union President Karen Rego told Patch.

Rego said teachers know this may mean delaying a return until the fourth quarter, or next year, but emphasized that students and staff must have a safe environment in which to work.

The majority of teachers union members said they feel "unsafe" returning to work, according to an internal survey conducted by the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union. Staffers overwhelmingly said they would feel safer if a vaccine was readily available.

The district is currently in remote-only education and will remain remote through at least Feb. 1. The Board of Education will discuss reopening on Thursday. Surveys will also be sent to families to determine whether or not they intend to enroll their children in hybrid or remote-only education.

"I understand that there may be some angst about what these new developments mean for you and your children. As we’ve seen in our surveys and in conversations with families, there is a wide range of feelings about a return to school, given that each family has their own unique situation," Kirby said.

The superintendent reiterated the district's commitment to following Cuyahoga County Board of Health recommendations. The Board recently revised its recommendations for schools, suggesting districts plan on reopening by March 1, in order to receive the vaccine.

"We remain committed to aligning our recommendations to their health and safety guidelines and will keep our families informed on where the District stands in the process of welcoming our staff and students back to school," Kirby said.