Boston schools to welcome some students in person on Thursday despite rising case rate

Around 3,500 Boston students are expected to attend school in person on Thursday with an additional 3,400 on Monday, according to the district, despite a rising virus rate that landed the city in the COVID red zone on Wednesday.

The students returning first will be those with high needs such as English language learners, those experiencing homelessness or kids who require special education programs.

“It’s been more than six months that many of them have been out of school and we want to open our doors to them,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius during Wednesday night’s school committee meeting.

The high-needs students will attend school in person two days a week until Oct. 13 when they can bump up to four days. More BPS students will filter in for hybrid learning in the coming weeks as part of the district’s phased-in approach.

If the city’s coronavirus test positivity rate stays below 4%, schools can remain open, according to BPS officials and Mayor Martin Walsh.

“I want to be clear, keeping our teachers, our students and our school staff safe is our No. 1 priority,” Walsh said in a Wednesday press conference.

Right now, the rate is 3.5%, but Boston tipped into the red zone defined by the state as having more than eight COVID cases per 100,000 residents.

Guidance from the state suggests districts shift into all-remote learning after three weeks in the red zone.

When asked what happens when Boston is in the red zone, a BPS spokesman said in a statement, “BPS’s safe, responsible approach to reopening schools allows us flexibility to adjust our plans according to evolving science, public health metrics and trends.”

Many members of the public expressed concern about in-person learning during Wednesday night’s meeting.

Boston City Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George said, “I am most concerned that given the elevated incident rates in East Boston and rising rates in Dorchester, we still do not have clear information about what BPS will do if school community members test positive.”

Boston Teachers Union President Jessica Tang said, “Many of our schools, even on the eve of opening doors, are still scrambling to ensure that schools are both prepared and safe.”

She said, “Many of us cannot in good conscience say that everything is ready, we are pleading for help.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3ihNZ5f