Schools getting ready for fall opening
Catholic schools in the Worcester Diocese are preparing to reopen this fall, aided by state guidelines that came out last week, David Perda, the superintendent, said Tuesday.
On June 25 Jeffrey C. Riley, Massachusetts commissioner of elementary and secondary education, issued a memorandum to school leaders with initial guidelines. More are to follow.
Later that day Superintendent Perda put out a letter to parents and guardians. He said he held a Zoom meeting with principals Monday, as he and his staff have been doing twice a week since the pandemic closed school buildings.
The state's memorandum says the goal for this fall is "the safe return of as many students as possible to in-person school settings." It says in-person instruction is important for learning, supporting students' social-emotional needs and mitigating the impacts of trauma.
"Moreover, in light of recent events and a national movement to fight for racial justice, it is even more critical that our students are able to quickly return to robust learning opportunities and a supportive school environment, through which we can engage in meaningful discussions on anti-racism, provide mental health supports, and help to prepare our young people to bring about the changes our world desperately needs," the memorandum says.
Catholic school administrators have been preparing for the 2020-21 school year "with the hope for a full in-person return to school in the fall," Superintendent Perda said in his letter.
"We will need to ensure that all Catholic schools are compliant with requirements from state agencies such as the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) that pertain to minimizing risk from COVID-19," he wrote.
He noted that the understanding of the virus is evolving and there are uncertainties about the future, so "our approach has been to develop contingencies and alternatives that we can readily utilize."
The state's memorandum says districts and schools will be required to submit to DESE in August reopening plans that address three models: "in-person learning with new safety requirements, a hybrid of in-person and remote learning, and the continuation of remote learning." Schools are to post these plans on their websites.
"While many of you were reading news stories or hearing neighbors talk about how their school systems could not seem to implement or provide meaningful remote learning, I heard from many Catholic school parents that their children were receiving consistent and enriching instruction each day," Superintendent Perda said in his letter. "Should we need to rely on remote learning at any time next year, know that we are committed to making that experience even more effective."
He told The Catholic Free Press that "one size doesn't fit all … we need to show some flexibility," an approach that was successful during the just-ended school year. With a hybrid model, some students might attend school one day, others another day, or some might go each day and others always learn remotely, he said.
The memorandum calls for families to check students for symptoms each morning. At school, students and adults are to wash or sanitize their hands, wear face masks and stay at least three feet apart (six if possible). When that distance is impossible, additional safety precautions are required. Schools should divide students into small groups that remain with each other and must have an isolation space for students displaying COVID-19 symptoms.
"Our principals will be examining factors such as class size and group size limits, classroom layouts, cleaning protocols, face coverings, school schedules, transportation, and procedures for responding to staff or students who are sick," Superintendent Perda said in his letter.
He said Catholic schools will share best practices and resources, and leaders will speak with each other and with local and state authorities. He told parents and guardians their input is appreciated, invited them to contact their principals with questions and concerns and said he is happy to speak with them too.
Asked whether Catholic schools can get state and federal money that is to be available for the re-opening process, Superintendent Perda said it's not fully clear yet what applies to Catholic schools.
"We have to make sure we're getting all the money we're entitled to," he said. "We've already done some of that."
He said the Catholic Schools Office is using money from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund) to buy personal protective equipment for Catholic schools in Worcester through the city's public schools. The schools get "volume discounting" for buying in bulk.