During coronavirus pandemic Fairview Park City Schools offering instruction and meals – cleveland.com

FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- For the better part of the last month Fairview Park City Schools Superintendent Bill Wagner said the school district was monitoring the coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19).

Early on the administration had a pretty good idea what was about to become a pandemic would lead to the shutting down of schools for an extended period of time.

Certainly as the governor was giving indications we really doubled down on our efforts to have staff prepared, Wagner said. Were very fortunate in that were a 1:1 technology district -- grades K-5 have iPads and grades 6-12 have MacBooks.

Thats allowed us to transition very easily to a home-based teaching and learning model for this period of time -- and extended if needed. Our teachers know what they need to be teaching. They know their kids, they know the content, they know the tech, so its been very easy for our district to move forward.

At this point Wagner said efforts are underway to make sure staff and all 1,800-enrolled students have everything they need to be successful during what are unprecedented circumstances.

We acknowledge that no matter how good of a structure we have under these times, it will never be as good has having kids in front of teachers doing the magic they do every day, Wagner said. Were about as close as we can get to that with the technology supports that we have and our teacher outreach to our kids and families.

Speaking of families, theyre encouraged to share photos of home-based learning using the #LearnDifferently hashtag over the next several weeks, as well as email photos or tag the district on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (@FPSchools).

Another part of the Fairview Park City Schools effort during the coronavirus pandemic is offering students who qualify for free and reduced lunches through the district Grab-and-Go school meals for pick-up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday and Thursdays now through April 2 in the Gilles-Sweet Elementary Schools back parking lot.

Interested and qualified families need to sign up.

The Mondays-Thursdays effort is to try to minimize contact between people, Wagner said. What we do on Monday is give multiple breakfasts and lunches to last them to the Thursday lunchtime. Then on Thursdays we give them multiple breakfasts and lunches to last them to the Monday lunchtime.

We have approximately 500 students who qualify, but unfortunately weve only had about 70 families pick up food for their kids. We realize there are families who are unable to come during the pick-up time. We ask that they just reach out to us, and we will make deliveries to their home.

The superintendent is hopeful Grab-and-Go school meal participation will increase.

As far as what the future holds, Wagner said while district officials are awaiting word along with the community there have been internal discussions about prom and commencement.

Well include our students in that decision making, Wagner.

Considering all buildings are empty, the superintendent noted the districts $35.2 million permanent improvement project is finishing up with work at Fairview High School and Lewis F. Mayer Middle School, including the new cafeteria, kitchen, innovation center and library media space.

At this point, its actually permitting our construction crews more access to the building, Wagner said. Were in the process of charging and pressurizing our sprinkler system. Its convenient to be able to do that when there arent people in the classroom.

Things are moving ahead really well, and its helped us perhaps move faster.

Read more news from the Sun Post Herald here.

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During coronavirus pandemic Fairview Park City Schools offering instruction and meals - cleveland.com