Walsh plan: Classes going back to school ‘at some point’
Mayor Martin Walsh insisted that the goal is to get city students back in school buildings “at some point” in this upcoming year, defending his administration’s plans as the first day of school gets closer.
“At some point in this upcoming school year, we have to bring kids back into school,” Walsh said, speaking to reporters at a press conference in Dorchester. “By opening day of school, Sept. 21 this year, our children will be six months out of the building.”
Boston Public Schools released its 87-page reopening plan on Saturday — the day after districts across the state had to file their plans with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Districts were supposed to indicate whether they intend to pursue a full return, go fully remote or plan to use a hybrid instruction model this fall. Boston nixed a full return but opted to keep its options open leaving the “hopscotch” hybrid and a fully remote model both in play. Even if the city chooses to have some kids back in school buildings, any parents who wish to will be able to opt their students out of in-person learning.
Walsh continues to say that the city will look at the data as the school year approaches to make a final decision, but wouldn’t say when that final decision will come. Last week he said he hopes to make a more conclusive announcement in the following week or two.
Several city councilors and activists have criticized the plan as not providing enough clarity, and for leaving parents in “limbo,” not sure whether their children will be returning to school or not. Also, activists have called for Boston simply to go all-remote.
The mayor, standing in front of a duck boat for a back-to-school event on Tuesday, fired back at some of the reopening plan’s critics, suggesting that some are simply looking to score political points.
“When it comes to opening schools, it’s not the time to gain political points for running for higher office,” Walsh said. “We should be working together, sitting at a table, talking about how we open school if we can open school. And those decisions should be made collectively. It shouldn’t be done with tweets — it should be having conversations with the superintendent.”
Walsh wants to have some students in schools if possible because he says all-remote will just cause further problems for already disadvantaged students. The “hopscotch” model, which Walsh has favored, would put half the student body in school Monday and Tuesday, no kids in school on Wednesday, and the other half there on the final two days of the week.