A major gift has created a safe space at Cleveland Public Library for students to attend virtual classes.
CPL’s Rockport Branch offers a classroom setting for children in grades sixth through 12th. Students receive school supplies, access to computers and staff support. Two-hour class sessions are being held Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the branch’s Best Buy Teen Tech Center. Registration is required. Scholars can sign up for one or two sessions per day. Students do not need a membership to the Best Buy Teen Tech Center to attend virtual school.
“The Safe Center for Online Learning (SCOL) space will offer children academic assistance and take the pressure off parents who are struggling to balance work and at home learning,” said Jill Pappenhagen, supervisor of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center at the Rockport Branch. “Whether a child is homeschooled, lacks internet access, or simply needs a quiet atmosphere, the Best Buy Teen Tech Center is open to them.”
The SCOL is made possible through a $20,000 grant from Best Buy and The Clubhouse Network. “Cleveland Public Library is honored to receive the SCOL grant to help our community bridge the digital divide,” said Shenise Johnson-Thomas, chief of external relations and development for CPL. “Our goal is to make the educational process easier for our youth. Students will have unlimited access to technology, library resources and after-school programs.”
The Best Buy Teen Tech Center at the Rockport Branch is the only one in the state of Ohio and one of 34 across the country. Membership is available to students ages 10-18. “The Center exposes students to high-tech careers and is a hands-on learning lab with innovative equipment such as 3D printers, film and music production tools and more. Our hope is the learning space empowers students to experiment with technology and unleash their creativity,” Pappenhagen said.
Students visiting the Best Buy Teen Tech Center are required to wear masks and practice social distancing. Masks will be made available upon request. CPL will space out computer stations and thoroughly clean in between sessions.
Families interested in using the Best Buy Teen Tech Center for virtual school can apply here.
