Boston Public Schools Plan To Reopen In March With Hybrid Learning
BOSTON (CBS) – Boston Public Schools plan to return to partial in-person learning this March.
In a joint statement Monday, Superintendent Brenda Cassellius and Boston Teachers Union President Jessica Tang released this timeline to bring students back to school in a hybrid learning model, starting March 1.
• Monday, February 1: All students who have qualified for high in-person priority
• Monday, March 1 & Thursday, March 4: Students in K0 - Grade 3 (Group A & B)
• Monday, March 15 & Thursday, March 18: Students in Grades 4 - 8 (Group A & B)
• Monday, March 29 & Thursday, April 1: Students in Grades 9 - 12 (Group A & B)
Boston suspended in-person and hybrid learning back on October 22 due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.
When classrooms re-open, the number of students and staff will be limited to keep social distancing in place. Some rooms will have air purifiers and there will be an increase in air quality tests. COVID-19 testing will also be available to students and teachers.
Amy LePage of Charlestown has been trying to make the best of the difficult school year. She said her six-year-old son is a smart boy who used to love going to school. After months of remote learning, LePage said he now struggles to stay focused during Zoom classes and suffers from anxiety.
"He says, 'Mommy, you've done all that you can, I've done all that I can, we need help,'" LePage said. "It's heartbreaking to see your kid just struggling so much. He's not in school so they don't see it. It's 100% attributable to not being in school."
LePage hopes the school system and the teachers union will stick to their return schedule. If not, she may follow some of their neighbors who have moved out of the city.
