Frank O’Linn, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Cleveland, was among the school leaders invited to participate in a Cleveland City Council Health and Human Services Committee meeting to discuss school efforts to vaccinate staff with the coronavirus vaccine.
The virtual hearing took place Feb. 8 with Ward 3 Councilman and committee chair Kerry McCormack, a Villa Angela-St. Joseph alumnus, presiding.
Other educators participating were Eric Gordon, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District; Matt Rado, executive director of charter schools for CMSD; Curtis Hutchison, director, non-public services for CMSD; and Dorothy Moulthrop, CEO Open Doors Academy.
“I am grateful for the invitation and for the partnership with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, CEO Gordon and others,” O’Linn said. He outlined the diocesan footprint in the Cleveland educational landscape: 17 elementaries and six high schools. He was participating in the hearing from Metro Catholic School, one of the diocesan schools in the city.
O’Linn said the Catholic schools work with the community – including the city and state -- to take advantage of as many resources as possible in order to provide the best education and support for their families. “We are grateful for these opportunities,” he added.
Regarding the coronavirus vaccine, O’Linn said there has been a push to educate people using a variety of available resources, including those from the state. “All of our Catholic schools have been serving people in person at some point,” he said, noting that some schools were conducing classes completely in person while others chose a hybrid model.
Vaccinations became available to teachers and school employees this month and O’Linn said efforts are underway across the eight-county diocese – which educates about 37,000 students in 108 schools -- to make the shots available to the school community. Some schools were organizing their own effort while others chose to partner with city or county health departments.
Gordon said CMSD vaccination efforts kicked off this week. He received his first injection during a livestreamed event on Feb. 9.
Committee consensus was to receive weekly updates on the progress of vaccinations and other COVID-19 mitigation efforts in the city.
The hearing also covered other topics relating to education and the pandemic, including the impact the suspension of classes and efforts to move to online learning are having on students.
O’Linn said from the diocesan perspective, they are looking closely at student performance. “We are concerned about disparities in learning.” He said teachers and staff members sometimes drive to students’ homes to drop off needed materials. They also are working with community partners to ensure that students have the devices and connectivity needed for successful online learning.
Regarding student performance/achievement, O’Linn said it was a mistake to simply talk about catching up.
“We need to learn from instruction and assess what we must do to continue meeting all the students’ needs. We must identify those needs and deliver what’s needed,” he added.
Committee members also asked questions about extracurricular activities during the pandemic.
O’Linn said diocesan schools are doing the best they can, especially at the high school level, to provide activities for the students in a safe manner. Some schools opted out of indoor sports, but O’Linn said CYO athletics have continued with restrictions and safeguards in place. The start of the basketball season was delayed, but it is underway. Some fall sports were outdoors, which made it easier to follow social distancing guidelines and minimized the potential for spreading the virus.
“We follow the science and trust it,” O’Linn said, noting coaches have been trained in safety protocols.
In his closing remarks, O’Linn again thanked the committee for the opportunity to share what diocesan schools are doing.
“Excellence happens on purpose,” he said.