Hello North Reading Public Schools Community,
Thank you to those who completed our reopening surveys. This data has been instrumental in assisting our leaders and reopening group in determining the best steps for our district.
Dr. Downs and I have applied for a technology grant and Mr Connelly and I are preparing for additional purchases of safety equipment and supplies, nursing support, HVAC updates, and other needs through the Coronavirus Relief Fund School Reopening Grant.
Next steps
Between now and July 31st we are finalizing our document that we will be submitting to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that describes the district's approach for three different possibilities (in-person with safety precautions, hybrid, and remote learning). We are preparing our approach with each model as there may be a need to utilize all of them depending upon the situation we face this year. Our leadership team has tested each learning space and they believe that we can comply with the safe distancing of students and staff (3ft-6ft) and also provide safe passage through the hallways, during lunches, and on buses.
We are also continuing to meet our teachers and other stakeholders to ensure that their needs are represented in our plan.
Our school reopening group, comprised of parents, SEPAC leaders, teachers, paraprofessionals, staff, school committee, administrators, and community leaders will review the draft plans leading up to July 31st and school committee will also provide their feedback on July 30th.
Since these plans require DESE approval and because we want to have as much clarity as possible around what reopening will look like in the fall, we have been asked to not widely present and discuss the plan until on or around August 10th. This will be a much more comprehensive plan and will be the first plan to be shared widely with the school community.
Our goal continues to be to bring as many students back as possible in-person within the safety parameters that are established. Accommodations will be made for those students who require remote learning. We are also strongly considering a phased-in start to school to ensure that all staff are trained and all students are able to practice the safety procedures for entering and exiting, passing in the halls, wearing masks, etc. Much more will be communicated about these careful approaches leading up to the August 10th distribution of our plan for reopening.
Athletics and Performing Arts
We recognize the importance of the athletic and performing arts programs have in our students lives and to our entire community. We are committed to offer as many programs and opportunities for our students as long as we can maintain the safety of all involved. As a community we should expect some changes to our performing arts and athletic/PE courses and extra-curricular activities this year.
Fall Athletic programs will begin practices no earlier than September 14th. There may also be changes to when sports are offered, when and where band or chorus can meet, etc. Preparing our students for these changes will be important as we look to continue to offer as many opportunities as possible for our students.
School Bus Transportation
The DESE recently released its guidance on school bus transportation and our business office staff is in the process of reviewing our registrations and bus routes and assuring that they adhere to the safety protocols (one student per seat, assigned seating, face coverings, etc.). As a reminder,
the registration deadline for busing is tomorrow, July 24, 2020 by the close of business. After this date any family seeking a bus pass should contact Rosaly MacKillop directly via email at
rmackillop@nrpsk12.org to be placed on a waiting list.
Communication
The survey feedback on my communication with the community has been very helpful. I will continue to utilize the Blackboard messages as I have been doing. The most important messages, such as the dissemination of the reopening plan, will likely be sent via email, text, and phone message to ensure that everyone receives it. Other updates will be communicated by email and text with a link to
my blog. The blog archives all of the previous messages as well.
To reduce the number of emails sent home we are utilizing our community bulletin board for messages about fundraisers and other community events. Please
check our website for those updates and subscribe to the
"notify me" section of the website to receive updates each time a new event or message is posted.
Thank you
I have attached these
FAQs from DESE as an update for parents in our community that should be helpful to families. I am also happy to answer any individual questions or concerns that you can send to me directly or to the reopening group through the parent liaisons or school committee members.
Thank you for your patience and feedback as we work together to develop the plans to return our students to school in the safest and most effective manner possible.
Sincerely yours,
Patrick Daly
