Burlington Schools Plan Mixed In-Person And Remote Models

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington Public Schools officials have drafted plans that envision all elementary school students attending in person in the morning, while middle and high school students would be split into two groups that alternate two days in the classroom and three days remote. The draft plans were presented at Tuesday's School Committee meeting.

Elementary and middle school students would go home for lunch and remain remote in the afternoon. High school students would stay in school all day for in-person days.

Each of the two groups at the middle and high school level would have two days in-person and two days fully remote. Wednesdays would have remote learning in the morning for middle schoolers and a morning advisory for high schoolers, while meetings and deep cleaning would happen in the afternoon.

A third group for certain students at the middle and high school level would attend additional days in person based on needs.

Afternoon activities would be led by teachers for elementary school students, but older students may be expected to do independent activities.

The Burlington Early Childhood Center would have special education students come in daily and general education students attend in person every other week.

The district is required by the state to produce in-person, remote and hybrid models, but they found fully in-person reopening would not be feasible outside of the elementary school level: the facilities do not have space for mandatory three feet distancing between students.

Even at the elementary level, the ideal six feet distancing would be impossible, Superintendent Eric Conti said, but the schools will accommodate four to five feet distancing.

The district is still producing plans for all three versions, but is focusing on the feasable options. The plans must be sent to the state on July 31 and districts are not supposed to make final decisions until mid-August.

Some in-person instruction for certain students may begin Aug. 31, with all students beginning Sept. 8.

District officials also reviewed parent and staff surveys. The largest group of families, 44.6 percent, want full in-person reopening, while 38.3 percent prefer a hybrid model and 17.1 percent want fully remote. Just over half of staff either do not want to return to school (9.4 percent) or are hesitant and unsure (40.6). Just 13.3 percent are eager to return, while the remaining 36.7 percent are nervous but will be ready.

Only 27 percent of parents were confident they would send their kids on the bus.

The district has obtained protective equipment, including two disposable masks per staff member per day and one per student per day, for the first 12 weeks of school.

The district is planning for a seamless transition in case schools are shut down again, with the same schedule carrying over into remote classes. Teachers may deliver their remote lessons from their classrooms.

The full presentation, including a question and public comment period, is available here from BCAT, beginning around 33 minutes in.

The district is forming a working group across a variety of groups to respond to questions and concerns about the reopening plans. Conti and Assistant Superintendent Patrick Larkin will host a live BCAT show Thursday, 6:30 to 8 p.m. to answer more questions.

"This will also be on the BCAT Government FB Page," the district said in an announcement. "Viewers will be able to ask questions in the FB feed. In addition, families can ask questions in advance by submitting them on the form linked here. These questions will also be published as part of a FAQ document for the fall reopening."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.