Strongsville Schools Won't Suspend Extracurricular Activities

STRONGSVILLE, OH — The Strongsville Schools will not suspend all extracurricular activities, despite recommendations from health officials to do so.

This week, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health recommended all districts begin the school year with remote-only education. The board also recommended all extracurricular activities, including sports, band, choir and theater, be suspended until the spread of COVID-19 drops locally.

"These and other extracurricular activities may not be conducive to the use of protective measures like social distancing or the use of facial coverings during participation. Additionally, activities such as band, theater and choir also have the potential to increase transmission through spread of respiratory droplets," the board said.

Strongsville Middle School and Strongsville High School athletics will be allowed to continue practice, as will the Strongsville High Marching Band, Superintendent Cameron Ryba said.

Ryba noted that any participant who says they are feeling ill or who has a fever during a health screening will not be allowed to participate in the activities.

The decision to allow these extracurricular activities to continue will be discussed at the Thursday board of education meeting, Ryba said. The community conversation event on reopening has been rescheduled for Aug. 11.

"Please know that I do not take any of these decisions lightly. Your feedback is important to me. Although I may not be able to respond to all emails due to the significant volume sent each day, I do read them all. I feel and understand your frustration, your stress, and anxiety. As a parent, I feel it too for my own boys. As Superintendent, I feel it for each one of our students, staff, and parents as we make these difficult decisions," Ryba said in a letter to the community.

This article originally appeared on the Strongsville Patch