Third Of Melrose Schools Staff Doesn't Want To Return To Class

MELROSE, MA — Tucked into Page 8 of the Melrose Public Schools Preliminary Draft Return to Instruction Plan sent to families over the weekend was a tri-colored pie chart that pointed to one of a hundred reasons a full return to class appears to be an impossible quandary.

The chart represented the findings of a July 18 survey asking how comfortable district staff were with returning under social distancing guidelines to try and stem the spread of COVID-19. A third of the 385 who responded said they do not feel comfortable returning to the classroom this year, regardless of social distancing measures.

About 67 percent of respondents said they would feel comfortable returning with 6 feet of distance between each seat as children come back to school, including nearly 22 percent who said they would be comfortable with 3 feet of distance between each seat.

The school year will begin with 6 feet from seat to seat until such a time where social distancing guidelines can be relaxed to 3 feet. The added social distancing space means fewer children able to return to school — but still only two-thirds of staff willing to join them.

It's not clear how many of those who responded were teachers or what it means for their status this fall. Questions sent to Superintendent Julie Kukenberger were not returned. Patch will update this story if they are.

Kukenberger will speak Tuesday night as the School Committee presents its draft return to instruction plan, which leans heavily on a hybrid model and, for some, a fully remote model.

The district considered scenarios that allowed for both 3 and 6 feet of social distancing for students. While the scenario with 3 feet of social distancing allows for more than double the amount of students than the scenario with 6 feet does, the district wouldn't be able to safely accommodate the children under those circumstances. There also wouldn't be enough staffing to man the additional classes needed.

"At this time, an in-person learning model is not possible," an executive summary of the plan said.

If and when social distancing requirements are eased to 3 feet, the district would still need 15-20 percent of students evenly distributed across the district to opt for fully remote learning.