Scene at High School 'Chaotic,' Students Say

UPDATED 3:25 P.M.

Students at Strongsville High School said they spent part of the day watching TV or talking with friends as substitutes struggled to teach double-sized classes. 

With the 383 members of the Strongsville Education Association out on strike, the Strongsville School District was able to hire only about 140 substitutes to replace them in the buildings.

At the high school, the regular eight periods were condensed into four.

"They combined the AP and the regular math classes, so it was kind of hard -- everyone was at a different point," said one student.

The student said he learned "pretty much nothing" on Monday, saying one of his  substitutes was assigned a class he wasn't qualified to teach.

"After 15 minutes, he let us do whatever we wanted, so we watched TV," the student said.

The district had already decided that the subs would teach only core classes like English and math, with classes like art and music canceled.

School Board President David Frazee said he, too, heard that not all classes went smoothly at the high school.

"I guess like anything else, it's going to take some time for things to settle down," he said.

But he said the district continues to hire substitutes so that most classrooms will eventually be covered.

He said his son had "a very successful experience" in AP English on Monday, "and he even has homework, but surprised me."

One student who did not attend school today posted on the Strongsville Patch Facebook page that he had been receiving text messages from his friends at the high school.

"School Updates Here: Over 65 kids in one class. No seats so people are sitting on the floor. Periods are doubled and no learning is there (No assignments, no work) Teacher isn't even in one classroom. Glorified study halls. Kids are saying they aren't coming tomorrow. Wow," the student posted.

Another woman posted: "Not sure what to do. I have two daughters in the High School and one has been sitting on the floor doing nothing. My other daughter is in a class that she doesn't belong in. ... I SUPPORT THE BOE and want my kids in school but sitting on the floor for hrs. seems wrong."

She later updated her post after learning students could leave early if their parents came to pick them up: "They are staying. Just talked to them and they are fine."

WKYC-TV 3 reported that, according to students, the situation in the high school is "chaotic," with kids gathered in large rooms watching TV and playing cards.

Groups of students walked out of the high school this morning. 

The SEA, meanwhile, has posted a Wall of Shame on its Facebook page, with photos of substitutes as they went to the police station to apply for jobs on Sunday.

The photos were taken as a large crowd of teachers shouted "scab" and other insults at the would-be subs as they walked into the building Sunday.

The SHS student who spoke with Strongsville Patch said although he had heard rumors that criminals and pedophiles would be hired to sub, he did not feel the school was an unsafe environment.

"There were administrators all over the place," he said