Reading Sets Timeline For Return To Full In-Person Learning

READING, MA — Reading's youngest students will be back in school full-time Monday, April 5, per the timetable set by Education Commissioner Jeff Riley, Superintendent John Doherty said Sunday.

Middle and high school students will return to full in-person instruction, Monday, April 26, Doherty said. Families will receive additional information from their school principal as those dates get closer.

Currently, 21.6 percent of Reading school staff are fully vaccinated – up from 19 percent last week. More than half of staff members surveyed have received their first dose and scheduled their second appointment.

The district is in need of food service employees to prepare lunch for students as it transitions back to a full in-person schedule. If you are interested, please contact Director of School Nutrition Danielle Collins at Danielle.Collins@reading.k12.ma.us.

Doherty said the district saw an uptick in coronavirus cases and quarantines among students last week:

• 2 positive RMHS remote, no close contacts or students quarantined
• 1 positive RMHS in person from the girls swim team, resulting in 13 students on the team quarantined.
• 2 positive Coolidge students from pooled testing, both in person, 22 students quarantined.
• 3 positive cases at Parker, 2 remote, 1 in person (sports contact of Coolidge cases)
• 4 positive Killam students, 2 in person and 2 remote, resulting in 20 students quarantined. This was an in school transmission.
• 3 Birch students remote, no close contacts.

The Reading Public Schools is asking all staff and students to participate in the pooled testing program in order to facilitate the return to full in-person instruction. To give consent to participate, click here: https://bit.ly/3oXiiSa.

If families who are currently in pool testing want to remove their consent, contact Julian Carr at Julian.Carr@reading.k12.ma.us.