Stone upbeat about hybrid reopen

Although schools are opening this week for remote learning only, School Superintendent Steven Stone gave an upbeat report to the School Committee this week for the Oct. 5 reopening of the school buildings on a hybrid basis.

Stone highlighted two areas in particular. All-day care will be available for families and teachers who would otherwise struggle to go to work while their children are learning remotely.

In addition, school ventilation systems, including air handling and HVAC systems, got good marks from TRC, an engineering consulting company which assessed air quality in the buildings.

Dracut has a contract with the Greater Lowell YMCA for beforeand after-school care.

Stone said he approached YMCA Director Kevin Morrissey several weeks ago to see if the program could be extended to all day for parents who need that coverage to get back to work.

Morrissey contacted several organizations, and Lenzi’s Catering stepped forward and entered a contract with the YMCA.

Stone said that the building has enough wireless access to handle demand. So students in the Remote Learning Academy and those students in their remote week on the hybrid system will have care available.

The program will be open to students ages 5-13.

“I’m thrilled about the YMCA,” Stone told the School Committee.

The ventilation report from TRC noted how well maintained all the systems are. The report was based on the assumption that each school would be at