Brookline Delays In-Person Learning For 9th Grade

BROOKLINE, MA — Tuesday will be the first day of in-person learning at Brookline elementary schools for students in the first and second grades. It was also slated to be the first day of in-person learning for ninth graders. But that changed late last week.

On Friday night, parents of the ninth graders set to begin the in person portion of hybrid learning received an email telling them that back to school had been pushed back a week.

"All students need and deserve a BHS quality education, and delaying our start date strengthens our academic and student support program," reads the letter from the head of the Brookline High School.

The email from the superintendent said the district needed a little more time to prepare and hire teachers for the job.

School Committee Chair Suzanne Federspiel told Patch that the head of the high school, Anthony Myer, requested an extra four days mainly to give staff a little extra time and help prepare students.

"He wanted to give the staff a little more time for planning," Federspiel said. "And there may be a few that need to take a leave for health reasons, and he wanted to make sure everybody had that opportunity. He just felt another four days would help make that happen."

Parents took to social media with mixed feelings.

Still, Meyer hopes to bring the ninth graders to come to the school this week to go over pandemic protocols and how they would be put into practice at school, according to Federspiel.

As for the elementary school, teachers and staff are ready for first and second graders, she said.

"They've been ready," Federspiel said. "There will likely be a little confusion because coming back will be a bit different, but teachers and families are pretty excited, actually."

Federspiel said the elementary schools — which already have the in-person kindergartners — have their cleaning supplies in the classrooms, air filters tested and ready and tents have been put up outside in case it's warm enough to eat outside during lunch.

Classrooms will have about 10 to 13 elementary students in them, according to Federspiel.

"It's going to be nice for the children to have a small class in person," she said.

Students in grades 3-8 are set to begin transitioning on Oct. 26 while students in grades 10-12 are set to begin transitioning on Nov. 9.

"I think people felt a lot better once they knew what the days," she said. "This has been extremely difficult for families and teaches, both sides have reached in and dug deep and done a great job. It's hard. Pandemic is hard."

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how .