Reopening Updates

Hello North Reading Public Schools Community,

Thank you to those who have already completed our reopening survey. It is also very important that everyone take this NEW technology survey (very brief) so that we can apply for a $25 million dollar state grant for additional devices for individual students in need. If you have been issued a device currently by the school as a part of the 2020 closure please DO NOT include these devices in your response.

https://forms.gle/ZGAeJXCzfjWNusBv6

If you have not had the opportunity to take the reopening survey please do so as soon as possible. Please only one response per family.

https://forms.gle/mPFhuVjSbXBXdDMk9

Next steps

This week we anticipate a template from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that we will need to submit by July 31st that describes the district's approach for three different possibilities (in-person with safety precautions, hybrid, and remote learning). Our leadership team is currently testing each school to make sure 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 will then meet with our teachers and other stakeholders this week to make sure 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 on Monday, July 20th. I will then present the plans to the school committee on July 20th to receive additional feedback before submitting to DESE by July 31st.

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 plans until early August.

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