Newton Votes On Split Hybrid, Distance School Reopening

NEWTON, MA— The School Committee voted 7 to 2 to reopen schools in September using a plan that would give families the choice of having a partial in person learning or a fully distanced learning model.

The vote came last week after the committee consulted with public health experts and the input of families, teachers and students.

"This recommendation is based upon the fact that the current transmission rate in Massachusetts is low and it is even lower in Newton," Superintendent David Fleishman said. "We believe that it is advantageous to give students the opportunity to meet their teacher(s) at the start of the year."

What other districts are doing:

• Waltham To Start School Mostly Online
  
• Brookline Votes On Phased In-Person School Reopening Plan

Newton’s plan:

Parents and caregivers can choose either to have their students attend school in-person two mornings a week with online learning for the other parts of the school week ( the hybrid model) or to have their students attend school completely online (the distance learning academy)

Any student who is determined to have “high needs” will be able to attend school in-person four or five days a week, this includes English language learners and children with specialized learning plans.

All teachers who are at high risk for COVID-19 will be permitted to teach remotely.

All students will be provided with a computer device and, if needed, a WiFi access hotspot device, according to the district.

To avoid having children having their masks off for any significant amount of time, students will have “Grab and Go” lunches available daily.

"Extensive" health and safety policies and procedures will be in place in the buildings, including 6 feet of distancing in the classrooms, face covering requirements, hand hygiene protocols, air circulation, exchange, and filtration measures, shifting use of space and classrooms to help with protocols.

The mayor said the city is working on "improvements" for walking and biking to school. The district will also supply bus transportation with distancing measures and rules in place.

"All of us – teachers and educators, parents and caregivers, and students – would prefer to be in-person in our school buildings full time," said Mayor Ruthanne Fuller. "We know that’s best for the social and emotional health of our children, for equitable schooling, and for academic excellence."

But, she said, with the coronavirus still circulating and no vaccine in sight, the district choose to go beyond the science-backed recommendations from the state DESE of having children keep 3 feet distance from one another and teachers to 6 feet distance. To keep that 6 foot district distance requirement would mean that only half the city's students could be in a classroom at a time. So, rather than bring everyone back, the committee voted on a hybrid approach with half the students learning at home at any given time with the other half present in the buildings with their teachers in-person.

Students who are at home learning online will have online learning experiences with their teachers and classmates in real time.

Split hybrid model of Two mornings a week students would be in the school buildings for in-person learning.

An elementary teacher will be with half the students in the school on Monday and Tuesday mornings and the other half on Thursday and Friday mornings. In the afternoons, this classroom teacher will have structured time with the students who are distance learning on that particular day. Librarians, art, music, specialists and aides will be teaching online when students are in distance learning and on Wednesdays. This model also avoids the health and safety complications of having students eating together by having “grab and go” lunches for students to take home at approximately 12:30.

Students with disabilities, particularly preschool-age students and those with significant and complex needs, will be prioritized for receiving in-person instruction. These students will receive as much in-person instruction as feasible within the health and safety parameters in effect.

Parents and caregivers can also choose all distance learning for their children if that fits their needs. These students will be part of the Distance Learning Academy. The Newton Public Schools Distance Learning Academy will use a variety of teaching and learning platforms and staff to provide high quality learning.

The idea is that as soon as Newton can pivot to all in-person education with the appropriate health and safety protocols, it will, said officials.

"If our continuous tracking of metrics such as the transmission of COVID-19 and positivity rates indicate a need to change track, we will move quickly to all distance learning for everyone," said Fuller. "Public health data and the advice of experts will inform our decision making."

School committee officials said they would adapt if needed based on the results of a parent and staff survey sent out this week.

Read these, too:

Newton First-Grade Teacher Molly Williams, 40, Dies

Newton Schools Prepare Plans To Open With Tents

Watch the NewTV's Newton News segment about the opening:

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