Waltham Schools Prepare To Open In September

WALTHAM, MA — The city has had a large committee divided into smaller working groups under the leadership of Assistant Superintendent Dr. Liz Homan discussing reopening of the schools for several weeks. But they've been largely waiting for more direction from the state. On Thursday it came: Schools must plan for remote and in-person learning and require new safety measures — including face coverings, hand-washing and more — when classes resume in the fall.

"We have been waiting for this type of directive from DESE," said Interim Superintendent George Frost in an email to Patch. "This will help frame continued conversations. It is a major effort but we will be ready for September."

Read more: School In MA After Coronavirus: Your Questions Answered

The Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance requires students above the first grade wear face coverings and has all students likely eating meals in their classroom to avoid the possible spread of the coronavirus. It also requires staff to wear masks and mandates desks be at least 3 feet apart and facing the same direction.

The guidelines don't limit class sizes, leaving it up to educators to determine how many children can be taught safely with social distancing. And they say at this time daily temperature-taking or COVID-19 testing won't be necessary.

"Our goal for the fall is to safely bring back as many students as possible to in-person school settings, to maximize learning and address our students’ holistic needs," the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said in a statement.

DESE instructed districts and schools to begin planning for a fall return that includes multiple possibilities, with a focus first and foremost on getting our students back into school buildings.

The guidelines say the precautions and protocols will make the risk of the virus spreading in schools "likely lower" than other places. They also shine a light on how different resuming mass education during the pandemic could be.

Face coverings must be worn by everyone — students, staff and educators — in school and on busses unless there is a medical or disability exemption. Face shields can be used a replacement in some cases.

There will be times when students will be permitted to remove face coverings during the school day, but only when students are at least 6 feet apart and have the windows open or are outside. School officials expect more guidance to come out on this.

An informal Patch study released this week suggests there could be widespread support for the in-school mask requirement. Eighty-six percent of some 9,000 respondents said schools should requires masks when they reopen.

Waltham Schools - and schools statewide - have been closed since March 15 in an effort to help stop the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

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• School In MA After Coronavirus: Your Questions Answered

- Mike Carraggi contributed to this report.