Cluster hotspot zones closes Lawrence schools

The Lawrence School District remains closed under the 14-day mandatory order set down by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s cluster hotspot initiative and will not reopen until later this month. There could be an update after press time.

Lawrence schools are in two of the three zones Cuomo created except for the high school. The Lawrence Primary School at the Number Two School and the Broadway Campus that houses the elementary school and middle school are in the orange zone (no school allowed) and the Number Two School abuts the yellow (schools are open).

“It is common sense that all schools in the district would close,” said Lawrence Superintendent Dr. Ann Pedersen, noting that parents need consistency to make plans for their children and to go to work.

Parents with children in the school district hold varying opinions on how complete remote learning is going after the Oct. 9 shutdown.

“I think we are doing OK considering the situation,” Woodmere resident Matthew Russo, the father of two Lawrence students wrote in response to a question posted on Facebook by the Herald. “It’s difficult for students to keep up but at least there safety is being heard. Kids are resilient so they will bounce back after the pandemic is over. But another thing is Lawrence public schools teachers have been wonderful through this process. I really feel for the working moms out there who this affects because it’s a choice between putting food on the table or sending their kids to school, which is such a difficult choice.”

“From the start this model was plagued to fail,” Inwood resident Ilyassha Shivers, who has two sons in the district said in answer to the question on remote learning. “There was little to no consideration when it pertains to the families or children that attend school in this district. What parent has a job that allows them to work one week and stay home one week?  There was poor planning and a lack of understanding of the needs and resources necessary for our children to be successful.”

Brian Walsh said his daughter Kaitlyn, a Lawrence High School sophomore, misses being in the school building. “She said she misses interactions with teachers and friends,” Walsh said.

Pedersen said that if you ask students what they like most about school it is being with their friends. “The social component for all of us in society is missing as we focus on health,” she said. “The largest problem is the lack of socialization. We miss that extended family, the large gatherings, it’s a large loss.”

Having a strong social emotional learning curriculum and using Google Meets as the students can see one another during classroom time and exchange ideas helps to alleviate that missing element, Pedersen said, noting it does not replace in-person discourse. “They are still listening to each other and the teacher but it’s not the preferred level of connection.”

“I’m thrilled with the  Lawrence School District!,” Miriam Kesetenbaum, the mother of a Lawrence High sophomore posted. “They made the transition so smooth from in person learning to remote instruction. We are so grateful for them!

“My daughter has been fun remote since school started,” Deena Livshits wrote. It’s working out well. The teachers are very communicative.”