No-contact sports will also be allowed to resume practice
By Vicki Greene, Contributing Writer
Marlborough—The School Committee voted to approve Superintendent Michael Bergeron’s recommendation to bring back students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2 as well as EL 1 and 2 (English Learners) in Grades 1- 12 for in-person learning, starting Monday, Nov. 2, calling them his “highest priority.” Parents who wish to keep their students in the remote learning program, can do so.
Students in Grades 3 -12 will remain learning remotely, however, the Committee suggested Bergeron may want to convene a special School Committee meeting the week of Nov. 2 depending on the COVID case data from the City’s Board of Health.
As of the Oct. 27 Committee meeting, according to Bergeron, there were five active COVID cases in the district (down from eight) and he expected two to recover and the number to drop to three active cases by Wednesday, Oct. 28.
All safety protocols will remain in place in the classrooms.
There was concern expressed by all in attendance, about a potential spike in cases during and after the holidays.
“I agree there are negatives (to changing learning models), but this is not just schools,” said Mayor Arthur Vigeant (School Committee Chair).” “We have to live with the reality that we’re nine months away from getting this under control and this is not going away.”
All involved realized that any change in the learning environment has an impact on students and their families and that consistency is critical. Given there are approximately 30 school days left until the end of the calendar year, Vigeant suggested the Committee consider staying with remote learning for Grades 3-12 until Jan. 11, however no decision had been made at the Oct. 27 meeting.
With a change to in-person learning, and the possible need for child care, The Boys & Girls Club opened to students on Oct. 26 with space for up to 55, according to Vigeant. Bergeron emphasized that if need be, the district will find a way to accommodate additional students.
Several committee members and Vigeant commented on the praise they’ve heard from parents, particularly at the elementary level, that teachers are doing a “tremendous job” teaching remotely and keeping students engaged.
The Committee also voted, after much discussion, and concern about equity for those students who do not play a sport, to approve Bergeron’s recommendation to allow no-contact Fall phase 1 teams to resume practices on school fields including, cross country, golf, soccer and field hockey. All safety protocols regarding mask wearing and hand sanitizing will remain in place.
Committee member Katherine Hennessy said she had spoken with High School Principal Dan Riley regarding club participation and that he said many of the clubs “from jazz, voice, music to honor societies” have been meeting virtually.
When asked about Winter sports, Bergeron said there has been no decision or guidance from the state as of yet other than the recent mandate that all ice hockey practices, games and tournaments at all levels around the state stop until notified.
