The roof of Lakeside High School in Saybrook Township, Ashtabula County, has partially collapsed due to a staggering amount of snowfall that hit the area recently. The Ashtabula Area City School District Superintendent, Lisa Newsome, told families that the school would be closed on Tuesday, December 3, following road conditions and a Level 3 snow emergency, as reported by FOX8. With snow accumulation exceeding 30 inches since Thursday night, some spots in Ashtabula County have seen snowdrifts up to 50 inches deep, according to Cleveland19.
This unexpected snow event has led to infrastructure challenges, notably the extensive damage to Lakeside High School, which remains closed for the foreseeable future. Superintendent Newsome indicated the heavy weight of the snow contributed to the structural damage. "I've never seen this much snow in this short of a period ever," Saybrook Fire Chief John Jyurovat echoed in a statement obtained by Cleveland19. The academic wing of the high school has been deemed unsafe. Therefore, finding alternative means for educating the 800 students affected by this closure is now a pressing challenge.
Newsome indicated her preference for in-person learning, stating, "I want to do in-school learning. I want them to be face to face with these teachers," and options such as virtual learning and using local businesses and churches are being considered. She also assured that all sports will continue, with winter games being played away and practices relocated, as reported by Cleveland19. The school has no timeline for repairs or a definitive alternative education plan. Newsome expressed the extent of the crisis, adding, "No one ever expected it. This is devastation to us."
Furthermore, Lakeside High School, which opened in 2006, is not considered structurally sound according to engineers, as mentioned in coverage by WKYC. Superintendent Newsome is determined to prioritize student education amidst the chaos, exploring options like transferring students to a middle school across the street and potential partnership with Kent State University's Ashtabula satellite campus. These strategies highlight a determination to maintain academic continuity without resorting to remote learning, which was heavily relied upon during the pandemic but is now seen by many educational leaders as less effective than face-to-face instruction.
