Beverly School Reopening Plan Takes Shape

BEVERLY, MA — Students will have breaks to take off their masks and outdoor learning time, weather permitting, under plans being developed for the reopening of Beverly Public Schools this fall.

"With all the significant changes we will need to make for the fall, attending school will feel very different for students and teachers than when we were last together in March," Superintendent Sue Charochak said in a note to parents last week. "We will be making every effort to make your child’s experience in school as positive and familiar as we are able."

Beverly officials began drafting three potential back-to-school plans last month after the state released the first set of guidelines for reopening public schools this fall. The state is requiring school districts to develop the plans for three potential scenarios: one where schools would fully reopen, one where they would remain under the remote learning model, and a third, hybrid model where there would be a combination of in-person and remote learning.

Under the the "preferred plan," where students go back to school full-time, elementary and fifth- and sixth-grade middle school students will spend most of the school day in the same classroom. Officials will try to reduce travel time between classes for seventh and eighth graders and high school students. All students in second grade or above will be required to wear masks. Face coverings will be "recommended" for kindergarten and first grade students.

Read Dr. Charochak's letter to Beverly Public School parents.

Dave Copeland covers Beverly and other North Shore communities for Patch. He can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).