I am sending a few quick updates in advance of more substantial information coming your way next week including the Return to School survey.
Fall 2020 Planning Update
- At this week's School Committee meeting, the committee voted to establish a minimum 6-foot social distancing standard. This is in alignment with both the DESE and CDC guidance, and it will be applied district-wide at all levels.
- We have launched the Fall 2020 Advisory Group. The team is comprised of principals, directors, School Committee members, parent representatives from each school, the presidents of the teachers’ association, and representatives from the Department of Health. The advisory group assists in the development of a plan that includes provisions for in-person, hybrid, and remote learning. The group works collaboratively to assess the feasibility of ideas, to solve problems, and to gather feedback.
- The adoption of a 6-foot social distancing standard eliminates the option for a full in-person return to school model, but it does allow us to pursue a hybrid model that would have 50% of the students in attendance at one time and be in alignment with safety guidelines. By mid-August, we will have both an in-person hybrid and full remote plan developed. From there we will be guided by the science and public health professionals as to whether the conditions are safe to move forward with in-person learning.
- If you would like to review the 7.21.20 Fall 2020 Reopening Planning Report or latest planning guidance and safety guidelines that we are using to establish our models, please visit the Fall 2020 Reentry page to access the publications.
I understand that the uncertainty about what the beginning of the school year will look like is unsettling. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions and concerns.
Pam
