Medford Working To Bring Back Older Students

MEDFORD, MA — The Medford Public Schools is working to give its older students the opportunity for in-person learning. Superintendent Marice Edouard-Vincent on Tuesday announced a return date for fifth-graders, but grades 7-12 will remain remote at least past next week.

Students in fifth grade Cohort B will attend classes starting Monday, Nov. 2, and students in Cohort C will start Thursday, Nov. 5. This means all elementary students will have returned to hybrid learning after next week.

But grades 7-12 remain up in the air, as the district works to "remove all barriers" that are hindering in-person learning, Edouard-Vincent said. The superintendent previously said Friday she understands the "deep frustration being experienced by families" that have not had the opportunity to return for in-person learning.

"Originally we had hoped that the majority of these students would have already returned to school, and I am sincerely sorry that has not turned out to be true," Edouard-Vincent said.

The district has completed significant HVAC repairs and maintenance work at the Columbus, McGlynn and Roberts schools. Additional repairs will be finished soon at the Andrews and Brooks schools, and the MPS received a shipment of portable HEPA filters to further assist in improving air quality conditions at each school, including Medford High School.

"As we continue to bring back more students for in-person learning, we recognize that there are still students in grades 7-12 who have not yet been provided with the opportunity for in-person learning," Edouard-Vincent said. "As we have shared, we are working as diligently as possible to remove all barriers that are preventing in-person learning."

The following steps are considered before the MPS brings back a grade level:

• Complete additional HVAC repairs and/or HEPA installation to meet the heightened air quality standards
• Eliminate remaining issues as they relate to staffing assignment amid an extremely challenging set of circumstances for our own MPS personnel
• Continue to monitor the city's health metrics regarding COVID-19 transmission