It was an historic and quick closure leaving students across the state unable to return to gather items in their school lockers and desks.
Middletown Schools were one of the first in the area Thursday to start a pick-up procedure that continued Friday for all 10 schools in the Butler County district. School families were designated a day and time alphabetically according to their last names to stop by outside the school buildings.
Other local school systems are coordinating similar possession returns with their students and families.
Designated students from both the Middletown high school and middle school, which share a campus, drove on to the property and were handed previously packed boxes of their personal items by teachers, administrators and school staffers.
“I’m glad that they did it because I was wondering how we were going to pick up her stuff,” said Middletown Middle School parent Christina Sampson after being handed her daughter’s left-behind items.
Sampson praised school officials for their procedures, which include sanitizing items and social distancing.
“It’s safe and efficient and there’s not a crowd and not a mob,” she said.
Elizabeth Beadle, spokeswoman for the city schools, said there were other intangible benefits to the procedure besides kids just getting back stuff.
“It was so good to see our students and I know the teachers loved getting to wish everyone a happy summer,” said Beadle.
“Earlier in the week, our teachers worked to pack up their students’ things in preparation for today and tomorrow when students can come to their school. We had a lot of students come by … today to pick up their personal belongings and drop off library books and instruments.”
Middletown High School Principal Carmela Cotter said “we’ve cleared out all the lockers and we made sure to label it for the kids.”
“We’ve had a lot of cars come in today. It’s been super. For one thing we just love seeing the kids and the parents even if you can only see them from the nose up,” said Cotter, referring to medical masks being worn by many of the school parents and children.
Photographer Nick Graham contributed to this story
About the Author