Brookline Teachers, Schools Agree To Get Resources To Students

BROOKLINE, MA —The School Committee and the Brookline Educators Union announced an agreement on work during the school closure in an effort to support student learning.

"Starting next week, schools and educators will be providing resources designed to keep students connected, engaged, and learning," said Interim Superintendent Ben Lummis.

As of Friday, there are 413 cases of coronavirus across the commonwealth. That number includes 11 known cases in Brookline, according to the Department of Brookline Public Health.
Officials are encouraging residents to practice social distancing, or keeping about 6-feet away from those who do not live in your household, not to set play dates, go to playgrounds or gather in groups larger than 10.

According to the announcement both the Public Schools and the teachers union are planing to provide "meaningful, high-quality, and equitable educational experiences for children," through collaboration. It's not clear what the materials will look like, or how they will be distributed, but earlier this week officials announced the district would be offering Chromebooks to students who needed to borrow them during the emergency. Town officials said the programming will build upon previously covered material and serve to keep students engaged with their school community.

But the joint statement comes as both sides are still working to negotiate a contract. Educators have been working off the previous contract, which expired last March.

The joint statement says schools will be generating resources and activities next week.

"These are not meant to replace live teaching," the statement reads.

School principals and educators are set to reach out to their respective school communities with more details about each school's approach to learning in the coming days, according to a communication from Town officials

"While we all look forward to being back in our schools as soon as possible, we understand that this pandemic will have a wide variety of impacts on students, families, teachers and staff alike," the statement reads. "In the meantime, we are all deeply committed to staying engaged and learning together as individuals and as a community."

Catch up on coverage:

Brookline Declares State Of Emergency, Limits Lines To 10

Coronavirus In Brookline: Updates, What's Closed, Canceled

Brookline Businesses, Customers Adapt To Coronavirus

Brookline Offers Chromebooks To Students To Borrow