SOLON, Ohio — Excitement. Anxiety. Fear. Just three words students and parents used to describe their emotions about the upcoming school year. News 5 reporter Jonathan Walsh assembled a group of students and then a group of parents at the Grantwood pavilion in Solon for candid conversation about various school options for the fall.
Our panel consisted of parents and students from various school districts primarily in Cleveland's eastern suburbs. Ages ranged from sixth grade through 11th grade.
Students shared concerns about getting their family members sick, wearing face masks and socially distancing all day at school. Parents expressed concerns about school staff being able to keep students socially distanced.
Watch students and parents talk openly about the potential for a return to school buildings.
Walsh also asked the same group of students and parents what they thought about going to school online. Students said online learning was difficult because they didn't always have access to their instructor to ask specific questions.
Walsh's previous 5 On Your Side Investigation surveyed 75 school districts in Northeast Ohio to gauge students participation in online learning and found relatively low participation in many school districts.
Parents expressed concern about caring for children while they had to work and the amount of online screen time students were exposed to.
Watch students and parents discuss online school.
