Medford On Pace To Start Hybrid Learning For More Grades

MEDFORD, MA — The Medford Public Schools is ready to welcome back four more grades for hybrid learning, according to data on its new reopening dashboard. The district considers the following standards when deciding to reopen: classroom readiness, community health metrics and district- and school-specific conditions.

Kindergarten and first, second and sixth grade have been given the green light to start hybrid learning Monday, Oct. 19.

Medford's percent positivity rate was 0.47 percent this week and 0.42 percent last week, well under the target of 3 percent. Its average daily rate was 6.7 cases per 100,000 residents this week and 5.87 last week. The target there is fewer than eight per 100,000 residents.

According to the latest district data released Friday by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Medford had no new cases among in-person/hybrid students or staff.

Students will be in classrooms that have met the following safety standards:

• Does the room have functioning windows or proper ventilation?
• Does the room have a sink with running water and a functional soap dispenser or a hand sanitizing station?
• Has the room been sanitized with an electrostatic sprayer?
• Has an Air Changes per Hour ACH rate (ACH) above 4.0 been achieved either through building HVAC or a supplemental device (i.e. HEPA filter)?