MERSD - DESE Initial Reopen Guidance Update

Good Afternoon MERSD Community,

Yesterday, Governor Baker’s office and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released their initial guidance for reopening schools this fall.  Over the next week, we will be reviewing the recommendations and requirements to begin to understand how it impacts the reopening framework for MERSD.  A preliminary review of the guidance supports our approach of planning multiple scenarios along a continuum.   As MERSD has anticipated, we will need to develop three separate plans - one for return to full in-person instruction with safety requirements, one for full remote learning, and one for hybrid learning that combines in-person and remote learning.  Based
upon the current advisory, MERSD is in the process of conducting a feasibility study to determine our ability to return to modified in-person instruction in September. 

Key recommendations from today’s DESE Guidance document include the following:

• Current medical research supports a safe in-person return to school - with preventive measures in place - as infection and transmission rates are lower for children than adults.
• Preventive measures include masks/face coverings, physical distancing, handwashing, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces
• Masks/face coverings will be required for all students in Grade 2 and above and for all adults; they are recommended for students in Grade 1 and below
• Based upon current medical research, and in conjunction with other preventive measures, a minimum physical distance of three feet has been established

The guidance released yesterday is intended to provide planning guidelines and does not address all aspects and requirements for reopening.  There will be additional installments of guidance throughout the summer, and our final plan will not be complete until mid-August.   Even then, it is likely that plans could change suddenly and move in a different direction from what we are preparing for at this time.   Please watch out for communications from your child’s school and from the district, so that you can stay informed and can participate in community engagement opportunities over the summer.  I will continue to keep you informed throughout the summer by sending out regular updates through email and social media.  School Committee meetings will include Reopening Updates & Planning Reports, and community input will be gathered late June – early August.   The first opportunity to share your feedback is through our Year-End Remote Learning Survey.  Your input will be valuable to improving our program for the fall.

Summer School Committee Schedule

• July 7 & 21
• August 4 & 18
• WebEx Call-In information posted Monday afternoon before the meeting on the District Website & Facebook Page

Tentative Schedule for Community Conversation (All Dates are Subject to Change)

• June 26^th – Year-End Remote Learning Survey
• Week of July 6^th – Virtual Focus Groups
• Week of July 27th - Return to School Survey

Thank you for your patience and support as we continue to develop our plans for Fall 2020.

Pam