BEACHWOOD, Ohio (NCC NEWS) — Governors around the country are facing difficult decisions this fall as they prepare for the upcoming school year. Due to a recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases in states across America, a ‘normal’ school year may be difficult to foresee. Beachwood High School head football coach and teacher, Damion Creel, is hopeful that Ohio Governor, Mike DeWine, will start Phase 3 by August 1st. This will allow teams to not only practice with their equipment, but also allow for competition between other schools.
If DeWine decides to delay or even cancel fall sports, Creel believes this will hurt high school seniors and their ability to attend four-year universities.
“Not only is it difficult for these kids high school wise, but if schools do not reopen, this can potentially effect many kids futures in pursuing a higher education,” he says. “There’s so much at stake for some of these kids who need football.”
If sports are cancelled, Creel says that junior college will be the route for many kids. Until DeWine makes his ruling, he will continue to hold practice in helmets only with social distancing strictly enforced.
As a teacher, Creel has held a keen eye while observing the proposals for this upcoming academic school year. While Governor DeWine is still weighing his options, Beachwood City School District has rolled out their plans for the start of the fall.
“For kids in kindergarten through 5th grade, they will attend school Monday through Friday and will be required to wear masks during this time,” he says. “The kids will be confined to the same classroom all day with designated breaks throughout the day to take off their masks and sanitize their hands.”
The plan is different for the older kids, where they will be split into two groups and will attend school for half a day, four days a week. The other half of the day, they will be given work to do virtually to keep up with a regular course load.
“They will also be required to wear masks throughout the day,” he says. “Like the younger kids, they will be given designated breaks to take their masks off.”
Creel is hopeful that the measures that the school board agreed to works. But from his own experience, he realizes the difficulties having kids learn virtually.
“My kids have two parents, both of them able to be at home, and even then it was a struggle” he says. “You look at kids of single parent families, of working families, and parents who did not have the luxury to work from home, I think about those families and I wonder how these kids would they have gotten their work done?”
Creel is hopeful that the plan Beachwood has rolled out will be beneficial for all involved, teachers and students alike.
