Medford Schools Reverse Course, Will Start Fully Remote

MEDFORD, MA — The majority of Medford students will start the school year fully remote after the School Committee voted last week to reverse course on the original hybrid learning model. At its Aug. 17 meeting, the Committee unanimously approved Superintendent Marice Edouard-Vincent's recommendation, based on the city's health metrics.

A color-coded map released by the state last week labeled Medford a "green" community, meaning it has been averaging fewer than four coronavirus cases per 100,000 people daily. At the time of the meeting, Medford was a "yellow" community, a designation given to cities and towns averaging 4-8 cases per 100,000 people daily.

"Right now we are trending in the wrong direction," Health Director Maryann O'Connor said at the Aug. 17 meeting. "The state has said if you're in the red, you are remote."

O'Connor said 11 of the 19 new cases reported from Aug. 12 to Aug. 17 in Medford were tied to a spread among the high school community. The situation resulted in high school graduation being canceled and held remotely.

"Our cases have risen," O'Connor said. "We were trending really well."

Edouard-Vincent urged the Committee to consider remote instruction for all students except kindergartners and those identified as "high needs," which includes students with special needs, English learners, homeless students, foster care students, early childhood and Curtis Tufts students.

"Some [kindergartners] have not had the benefit of going to preschool, and I would like to see them have the opportunity to develop their readiness skills," Edouard-Vincent said.

Remote learning for grades 1-12 will begin Sept. 16. Kindergarten screenings will be held Sept. 16-18, and remote instruction will start Sept. 21. Students identified as "high needs" will begin in-person instruction at the start of the year; however, the exact in-person start date has not yet been determined.

The School Committee will re-evaluate the back-to-school plan no later than Oct. 16. Teachers and staff are currently undergoing professional development to improve the remote learning model.

A Q&A with Director of Pupil Services Joan Bowen will be held Wednesday, Aug. 26 from 6-7 p.m. via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9612128333.