28 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, April 9, 2021
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS As school reopening dates approach, teachers celebrate vaccine access By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer WESTBOROUGH – Seventy three percent of Westborough Schools faculty and staff had either completed vaccinations or scheduled appointments as of March 24, Superintendent Amber Bock told the School Committee that night. As the district and the rest of the state rapidly approach a return to full-time, in-person schooling, Bock celebrated that news. “(I) feel very good about where we are now,” she said. Bock noted that the vaccinations have given the school community a “much needed emotional lift,” adding that faculty and staff have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic while still fearing for their own health as well as that of their families.
At urging of the state, schools move forward with reopening plans Westborough schools are indeed on track to bring a majority of students back for in-person learning five days per week in the near future. Children in grades two through four already returned on Monday, March 29 while fifth and sixth graders start on Monday, April 5. Monday, April 12 is the start date for grades seven and eight. High school students return on Monday, April 26. A remote learning option is still in place for families who choose to have their children finish out the year using that model. Bock said at that March 24 School Committee meeting that the return dates are on similar tracks with those in neighboring communities. Bock gave a secondary
shout out to the custodial and maintenance staff of her district for their hard work in preparing buildings for this transition. “They are a dynamic and amazing group who stand up and get work done to ensure our buildings are well cared for,” she said. Administrators talk scheduling changes In other scheduling news, Assistant Superintendent Daniel Meyer discussed changing the date for the last day of school from a half day on Monday, June 21 to a full day on Friday, June 18. The school committee will address that proposal at its next meeting. Meyer also noted that traditionally, there is one early release day in May used to talk about placements for the following year. He suggested that
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take place on Friday, May 7. Students who travel during, this spring, to face quarantines Speaking March 24, Bock also talked about protocols for students who may travel for longer than a 24-hour period. For any time beyond that duration, the person must take a PCR test for the virus and quarantine until they get a clear result. These steps are in line with Gov. Charlie Baker’s restrictions. People who are vaccinated
do not have to test or quarantine. Children under the age of 10 would follow the practice of their family. Through this all, School Committee Chair Kristen Vincent cautioned everyone that the return to school does not mean everything is “back to normal. “But it is back to something really great,” she said. She urged the community to be vigilant outside of school to keep themselves and others safe in light of the ongoing pandemic.
Shrewsbury snags approval to delay fifth grade return to in-person learning By Melanie Petrucci Senior Community Reporter SHREWSBURY – State officials recently green lit a waiver request from the Shrewsbury Public Schools to delay its fifthgrade students’ return to fulltime in-person classes. A somewhat unique situation, Shrewsbury had to file the request after the state lumped fifth grade in with younger students on its elementary school reopening timetable. In Shrewsbury, though, the fifth grade operates not out of elementary schools, but out of local middle schools. Reopening timeline solidifies, in part, thanks to waiver Speaking at a school committee meeting, March 24, Schools Superintendent Joseph Sawyer said students in grades K-4 will return Monday, April 5. Grades 5-6 will return in a “phased-in” format starting on Monday April 12. Grades 7-8 will return starting on Monday, April 26 in a similar manner while grades 9-12 will return May 3. Now clear, the plan is for Shrewsbury to use COVID-19 grant money to purchase approximately 1,600 desks and 300 tables for students because existing school furniture does not accommodate threefoot physical distancing. Assistant Superintendent of Operation and Finance Patrick
Collins alluded to those buying challenges in a broader sense, March 24, when saying a “phased-in” approach is necessary for logistics to work. The district does not only have to buy furniture. It must also reconfigure classrooms and learning spaces, shuffling furniture and student-teacher assignments. Lunch provides challenges Another logistical hurdle Sawyer acknowledged, centers on providing sufficient seating for lunch. Collins said that the district has already procured two tents for the Paton Elementary School and the Oak Middle School to help with that, mirroring strategies recently seen in other districts like nearby Westborough. He said the district is now in great shape for elementary level students to return on time, April 5. Higher grades, though, will need additional time. Reopenings offer hope for administrators, students, staff Speaking, March 24, Sawyer stated, “We are heading into the final stretch here and it’s going to be some real positives because of getting kids back to school more frequently and in person. He added, though, “This is the time when people need to support one another and give grace to one another so that we can finish this race as strongly as we can…”
