Newton Middle Schoolers Begin In-Person Portion Of Hybrid Model

NEWTON, MA — Monday was the first day of in-person learning for middle school students who chose the hybrid learning model. The return for students at the city's four middle schools two mornings a week comes after months of online only courses.

"From all accounts, today was a successful day at all [four] of our middle schools," said Superintendent David Fleishman. "It is a real credit to the incredibly hard work of our [middle school] administrators and staff."

The district has 2,936 middle students and 76 percent of them chose the hybrid model, according to Fleishman.

"Our students, families, and staff in our schools have had a really difficult nine months," said Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller. "We know students learn best in the classroom with their peers."

Parents in other grades are hoping this will mean students in the elementary school programs and high school programs will be permitted to update their models, too.

For those elementary students who chose in-person learning, the hybrid model was phased in beginning Day 1, with students spending two mornings a week in-person. They were supposed to expand to two days a week in the classroom on Nov. 1, but the mayor says the district is still working on staffing to make this happen.

The mayor announced in August that rather than offer some in-person learning at the high schools, all high school students will begin exclusively online and stay that way "for the foreseeable future."

That move upset parents who petitioned for the district to rethink that move.

Related: Newton Parents Protest New Return to School Model

On Monday, the School Committee will hear a report from the High School Working Group with alternative models for starting in-person classes at both high schools.

"Being fully remote has been really tough for those high schoolers who want in-person opportunities," said Fuller. "Teachers have invested so much of their experience, time and energy to make remote learning inviting, interesting and valuable. But it’s still been challenging."

Fuller said she empathizes with the challenges on all sides, but she is working to balance the desire for in-school learning and state safety protocols.

"I am doing everything I can that’s under my direct control to make that [return] possible," she said.

As of Nov. 11, there have been 27 people in the school community who have tested positive for the coronavirus since schools began reporting the number to the state in September. Ten of them have been staff for those teaching in-person with the hybrid model, and nine of them have been students participating in the in-person hybrid model. Eight students who are learning online only also tested positive.

Compare that with the city numbers: As of Nov. 12, there were 1,211 people who had tested positive for the coronavirus since March and of those 145 people had died. State data indicated there were 50 people who tested positive in Newton during the six days from Thursday, Nov. 5 through Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The School Committee meeting begins at 7 p.m. on Zoom Monday and includes a discussion on the high school in-person learning.

The Zoom meeting link is https://zoom.us/j/390017072, the call in number is 1-646-558-8656, and the meeting ID is 390 017 072.

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