June 25, 2020
Dear BPS Community,
This morning, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released its initial guidance for the reopening of schools in September. We’ve compiled a few of the key takeaways that will inform our Reopening Committee’s work over the next several weeks. If you’d like to read the full report, please click here.
I want to stress that just as we’ve seen throughout the pandemic, guidance and advisories can change rapidly as our understanding of this illness and the state of public health changes. We fully expect that this guidance will evolve over the next two months as new information becomes available.
Learning Models:
- We’ve been asked to prepare plans for three different learning models: a full return to school, a hybrid model and an entirely remote learning model.
- As of June 25, we are expected to prioritize a full, in-person return to school with students in school five days per week.
- We must be prepared to rapidly switch to a hybrid model or remote learning model if the state of public health changes in our community.
- We will provide a full remote learning option to students who are immunocompromised or who have medical concerns.
- DESE has requested that we send all three plans to their offices in August. We will provide plenty of opportunities for input from staff, students and families between now and the deadline.
Personal Protective Equipment:
- Students in grade 2 and above will be required to wear a mask or face covering. Students in preK, kindergarten and grade 1 will be encouraged to wear a mask or face covering.
- Face shields are recommended for those with medical, behavioral or other challenges.
- All adults will be required to wear a mask.
- Medical exceptions will need to be made. We will clearly detail how parents/guardians and staff can report those medical exceptions in our reopening plan.
- Masks will be required on all school transportation.
- Transparent face shields or coverings are recommended for teachers of students with hearing impairments.
Physical Distancing and Preventive Measures:
- Learning environments must allow for a minimum of three feet of space, with six feet of space being the recommended distance. All desks must face the same direction.
- Students should be kept in the same groups as much as possible. DESE recommends that we put older students in smaller “cohorts” that remain together through much of the day if/when possible.
- The district should consider utilizing alternate spaces where possible to maximize distance between students.
- We are expected to designate an “isolation space” in each building for students displaying COVID-19 symptoms. This space should be separate from the nurse’s office.
- DESE does not advocate for temperature checks at school entrances due to the risk for “false positives.” Similarly, in-school testing is not recommended at this time. They stress that this guidance in particular is subject to change.
Funding:
- The state has told us to prepare for a “level service plus” budget. Keep in mind that as of this writing, we do not have a Chapter 70 figure from the Legislature.
- The state intends to provide additional funds, including $225 per pupil and $25 million in technology grants, for the specific purpose of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. We fully intend to pursue all available resources.
DESE’s initial guidance for the reopening of schools has been informed by medical research and data. As previously mentioned, this guidance is subject to change over the summer as new information becomes available and our Reopening Committee is committed to adjusting in real-time.
Your health and the health of your loved ones is always our top priority. Over the next few weeks, we will provide you with multiple forums to share feedback and/or concerns. Please continue to check our official communications platforms for the latest updates.
Thank you,
Superintendent Thomas