All city schools to reopen
Timeline and safety procedures unveiled
As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to climb in the city, Boston Public Schools on Monday announced a new timeline to reopen all school buildings for in-person learning.
The tentative phased schedule for returning students to classrooms starts in February.
The proposed timeline for returning students whose families have selected hybrid learning is as follows: Feb. 1 for all students who have qualified for high inperson priority; March 1 and March 4 for students in K0 to Grade 3; March 15 and March 18 for students in Grades 4 to 8; and March 29 and April 1 for students in Grades 9 to 12.
If necessary, each of the phases can be postponed by one to two weeks based on the public health environment.
“Throughout the pandemic, we worked diligently to implement the appropriate planning and safety measures to allow more students to return for in-person learning because we understand the importance of providing a range of learning options for families,” Mayor Martin Walsh said in a statement.
“Under the Superintendent’s leadership, in partnership with (Boston Teachers Union) President (Jessica) Tang, I am grateful that BPS and BTU have reached a significant agreement that outlines the return to in-person learning for additional students in a safe and sustainable manner,” he said. “I look forward to welcoming more students and teachers back into school buildings, while also remaining committed to the continued success of remote learning for families that prefer that option.”
Through the systemwide agreement, the BPS, the BTU and the Boston Public Health Commission will extend health, safety and staffing protocols to the future reopening of all school buildings. These protocols and standards are already in place at the 32 schools currently open.
Some of these policies include: limiting the number of students and staff in a building at one time to ensure social distancing; providing air purifiers into classrooms, offices and common areas or highest grade HVAC filters in schools with HVAC systems; delivering additional personal protective equipment to schools for students and staff; offering access to free COVD-19 testing for teachers on site or nearby their school; and expanding a pilot program for student COVID-19 testing.
“The best learning environment for our students is in their classrooms, with their peers, under the care of our educators and staff,” Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said in a statement. “This agreement charts the course for the rest of the school year and establishes a safe return to in-person learning for additional students and staff.”