Braintree School Reopening Presentation Scheduled For Thursday

BRAINTREE, MA — The school committee will present the reopening plan for Braintree Public Schools during a public hearing Thursday night.

Originally, the school district was going to present its plan Monday, but that was moved to allow more time for school officials to address questions and for a vote on removing Native American imagery from the Braintree High School logo.

A plan presented last week is expected to undergo revisions. Under the draft, most students would take part in remote learning beginning Sept. 16, and younger students would attend school under a hybrid model.

Students in prekindergarten through grade 3 would attend in-person classes two days per week until lunchtime. These students would pick up "grab and go" lunches as they leave school. Prekindergarten classes would be held at Braintree High School, while kindergarten through grade 3 would go to East Middle School All other students would have fully remote classes.

Under the draft, school officials would review the plan in November, and any needed changes would come after the Thanksgiving break.

Since the original plan was revealed, Mayor Charles Kokoros said he's received a lot of emails from parents.

"There are some concerns from parents, and rightfully so, and we are going to do everything we can," Kokoros said.

One question parents asked town and school officials was why other options for in-person learning weren't considered. School Committee member George Kokoros said parents have asked school officials to look at other school buildings, town hall and even outdoor spaces as possible places to have classes.

"The buildings we use, we will use them in the right way," George Kokoros said.

School Committee Chair Tom Devin said the age of school buildings was a factor considered during the draft phase. He said buildings built in the '50s, '60s and even '70s didn't account for air conditioning when, so ventilation is crucial when trying to lessen the spread of COVID-19.

"The average age of our buildings is 75-years-old," Devin said.

Devin also said outdoor classes probably wouldn't work well in New England because of weather. Still, Devin said revisions are on the table.

"These plans that come out are drafts," Devin said. "These are plans that have to be extremely flexible."

Parents' biggest questions and concerns

During Monday's school committee meeting, parents brought up an array of concerns. Resident Dawn Whitney said the school district should consider a fully remote model for a 30-day period so students, parents and teachers can "get used to what remote learning really looks like. She said this allows schools to get the kinks out and find out who doesn't have the technology they need.

She also was worried about any considerations for outdoor classes.

"I have concerns with other naturally occurring things in the environment," Whitney said. "We are dealing with EEE season right now."

Several parents were worried how special education classes and students in individualized education programs would react to remote learning.

Sara St. Laurent said students in the special education program and others not on education plans may need more personal time.

Sheelaugh Corcoran reiterated this, saying students with special education plans need personal instruction.

Devin said these concerns will be address at Thursday's Zoom meeting which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The committee is expected to vote on the plan on Aug. 17.