Parents and students attending local schools, like many others, all have been making adjustments to schools being closed.

For Melissa and Robert Liste of Warren, having their 10-year-old daughter, Allison, home doing her fourth-grade school work has been a challenge.

The Howland student has been receiving packages of regular school homework she is responsible for doing, and in recent days, the school has added journals for the students to write.

“She is not used to doing so much of her work at home,” said Melissa Liste, who is a dialysis nurse. “I’m still working, and now I am trying to do even more homework with her.

“It is hard,” she said. “My daughter wants to go back to school to be with her friends and with her teachers. It has been an emotional adjustment.”

Getting Allison motivated to do the work has been one of the family’s biggest concerns.

“I have no idea how to make the lessons interesting,” Melissa Liste said. “She is doing things, like geometry, that I did not like when I was in school. We are reading the lessons and doing the best we can.”

Melissa said her daughter already thinks she’s on an extended summer vacation, but is frustrated she still has homework to do.

“There are so many distractions, such as pets, phones and other things that can distract even the best student,” Melissa said.

“Her teacher has been awesome,” she continued. “She reached out to us. The school has called several times to make sure we know where to pick up stuff and what is available.”

Robert Liste acknowledged this has been new territory for everyone involved.

“Hopefully, schools will reopen on May 1,” he said. “I know they are busy, but it would be great if tutors could be provided.”

Theresa and Stan Kosinski live in Youngstown. Their three children, Madison, 18; Jordan, 16; and Erin, 14, however, all attend Austintown schools as open enrollment students.

“We are fortunate,” Theresa Kosinski said. “Our kids are older, so they are doing their homework themselves. We have to remind them, but they’re pretty independent.”

Madison, a senior set to graduate soon, describes not being able to go to school every day as stressful.

“There is no day-to-day schedule that I have to follow at home like I do at school every day,” Madison said. “I have been having trouble communicating with my teachers. There is only so much emailing my teachers can do when it comes to online work.”

Theresa said she feels particularly bad for Madison because she is a senior and a member of Austintown Fitch’s concert choir.

The school’s annual Cabaret on March 21 was canceled on the day the state closed all schools. The district also canceled the choir’s scheduled Chicago tour that was to take place during its spring break, at which the choir was to sing at VA Clinics.

“Personally, I am disappointed, but I do understand why it was canceled,” Madison said. “I wouldn’t want anyone from both the choir and VA clinics getting sick.”

Theresa said she tries to help when she can.

“The district has been great,” Theresa said. “Their teachers have been very responsive to our questions and have been helpful. I’ve always had respect for teachers. I know it is not an easy job.”

LUNCHES HELP

Warren resident Todd Johnson, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Warren, has three school children, London, 11, a sixth-grader; Elias, 10, a fourth-grader; and Ethan, 6, all of whom attend Warren City Schools. Todd said his family has been using available online resources and homework packages.

“We are, in fact, setting up an appointment to obtain a laptop for my daughter,” he said. “The lunch program has been helpful. Not only on parents’ ability to save on food costs, but the lunch programs have helped our students to keep their schedules to make them feel safe.”

Todd and his wife, Shameika, have carved out time to work with their children to keep up with their school lessons.

“We are not able to do the six hours of school work the children are used to, but are able to spend 90 minutes or more every day,” Todd said. “We have had to relearn some subjects.”

London, 11, said she misses school because there is more to do.

“It is kind of boring at home,” she said. “I don’t want to forget what I’ve learned in school.”

The Johnsons have been able to get tutors for their children.

KEEPING UP

Warren G. Harding seniors Cardae Clay, 17, and Chardae Clay, also 17, said they are struggling to keep up with all of the lessons they are required to do online.

“We are getting three lessons per class, and we have seven classes,” Cardae said. “It is hard because you can’t just directly ask teachers how to do the work.”

Cardae said some teachers are better at doing online lessons than others, which can make it even more frustrating for students trying to grasp concepts while on their own at home.

Chardae added she has reached out to friends and classmates to see if they can help, but, often, they are having the same difficulties in grasping subjects.

The sisters add that when the Class of 2020 ends this school year, it will not be able to do some things that every other class before has done, including walking across stages during graduation ceremonies and going to proms.

“There are some of our classmates who were planning on getting academic and sports scholarships, who don’t know if they will get the scholarships,” Chardae said.