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Superintendent's Message



Superintendent Dr. Theodore Caleris

Dr. Theodore Caleris
Superintendent/CEO
askdrcaleris@bcshurricanes.org
216-485-8100

 

Dear Brooklyn City Schools Community,

I hope that you have enjoyed the summer with friends and family. With the start of the 2021-2022 school year less than one week away, I am thrilled to have our students and staff returning to school in-person and on a full-time basis. As we enter our third school year that has been impacted by the pandemic, I am optimistic that we will continue to work together to navigate this challenging situation. A united focus on showing kindness and empathy will be essential in helping our school community navigate this pandemic once again. 

To facilitate a safe return to school, I want to review the following protocols that I sent to the community at the end of July: 

  • As previously announced, the Brooklyn City School District strongly recommends masks should be worn indoors by all individuals (age 2 and older) per Ohio Department of Health and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health guidelines. Note - Wearing a mask indoors will prevent any type of quarantine situation for a student or staff member. 
  • Per federal mandate, students and staff that use BCS transportation (bus or van) will be required to wear masks. This includes transportation to and from school, field trips and athletic events. 
  • Staff and students who are fully vaccinated or masked will not need to quarantine if they come into close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 unless they are showing symptoms. 
  • It is important to note if staff/students are unmasked and unvaccinated, and come into contact with an individual who tests positive for COVID-19, they will likely have to quarantine for 7 to 10 days. With constant communication, I am confident we will continue to work together to keep all staff and students healthy during this time. 
  • Upon arrival at school, we expect classrooms to have a similar layout that was applied prior to the pandemic. The school district will attempt to maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms, but such distances may not be possible in all situations throughout the day. When it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least 3 feet, the district will continue to layer multiple prevention strategies throughout the school day to help mitigate these risks. 

Please take a moment to review other frequently asked questions by parents/guardians below: 

  • Wednesday, 8/25 - Welcome Back to School 2021 Hurricane Community Rally; 6:00-8:00 p.m. @ Brooklyn Stadium
  • Thursday, 8/26 and Friday, 8/27 - Student Orientation for Grades 1-12
  • Monday, 8/30 - First day of school for Grades 1-12; Kindergarten Orientation
  • Tuesday, 8/31 - First day of school for Kindergarten
  • Monday, 9/6 - Labor Day; No school for students and staff
  • Thursday, 9/9 - District Open House (In-Person); Grades PK-3 (5-7 pm); Grades 4-12 (6-8 pm)
  • Free breakfast and lunch will be available for all students this school year without application. However, families who believe they still qualify for free or reduced school fees must still apply.
  • The district will continue to offer before and aftercare for grades K-5 through our KATS Program. Contact Chris Ross, KATS Coordinator, at chris.ross@bcshurricanes.org for more information.

As demonstrated since the start of the pandemic, conditions related to COVID-19 constantly change. The district will use our local Brooklyn and regional data, and will consider recommendations from the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to assist with our decision making during the school year. Our primary goal is to remain in-person, 5-days/week, throughout the school year. Should the spread of COVID-19 in our schools reach a level deemed necessary to require additional strategies, the district may require additional mitigation protocols and/or masking for students and staff. We certainly hope that this does not happen and it is imperative that we continue to work together to maintain a healthy school environment for everyone. As we did last year, we will continue to make decisions in 3-4 week increments to allow for the district to make the best decision based on current health-related conditions.    

We are excited to have our HURRICANE FAMILY back in person five days a week and look forward to a great start to the 2021-2022 school year. Together, we’re on the path to achieving Tradition, Pride and Excellence. Thank you for your continued support of the Brooklyn City Schools.

Sincerely, 

Theodore Caleris, Ph.D
Superintendent
Brooklyn City Schools




8/24/2021

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