EASTHAMPTON — The School Committee has voted unanimously to start the coming school year remotely before gradually entering into a phased hybrid model of remote and in-person learning.
The vote was taken during a livestreamed meeting Friday.
Superintendent of Schools Allison LeClair presented a timeline for the district, which includes four phases. From Aug. 26 to Sept. 11, professional development would take place with an instructional technology specialist. Full remote learning will take place for all students from Sept. 14 to Oct. 9.
From Oct. 13 to Nov. 3, the district would begin a hybrid model of learning for special populations of students.
“It would include our preschool students, our (English language learners), our foster care and homeless students,” LeClair said. “When we say these students would be welcomed into the school, that’s dependent on health metrics and, of course, dependent at the discretion of families. If families need or desire to keep their students home, they can absolutely do that.”
All other students would continue with remote learning during Phase 3, she explained.
By Nov. 4, all students would begin utilizing the hybrid model, with families retaining the option of keeping their children in remote learning exclusively, she said. Once Phase 4 takes effect, the school district would continue monitoring health metrics in 30-day intervals.
“Of course, these phases or these points in time are dependent on health metrics at the state and regional level,” LeClair said. “We would mirror a phased-in approach as the governor has exemplified for the state. If at any time we need to stop a phase or roll back a phase, we can do that.”
School Committee member Jonathan Schmidt said he thinks that the district is approaching the phased-in plan with “so much more deliberation and thought” than when the schools moved to remote learning this past spring.
“I firmly believe that our teachers are going to be in a position to provide much better support and education in the previous experience,” he said.
School Committee Chairwoman Cynthia Kwiecinski said she believes the health of teachers is “crucial” for making the phased-in approach to learning work.
“My push is whatever we need to do to keep people the healthiest is where I want to land,” she said.
Chris Goudreau can be reached at cgoudreau@gazettenet.com.