AMHERST — Return to in-classroom learning for preschoolers, kindergartners, first graders, and special population students at all grade levels, is being postponed because of a rise in COVID-19 cases in Amherst.
Superintendent Michael Morris sent an announcement Wednesday to parents and guardians that 14 new cases identified over the previous night in Amherst, which brings to 30 the number of new cases in town since last Friday, prompted the decision. Town officials reported Wednesday that there are a total of 35 active cases in town.
“Based on this significant increase in case count, the Amherst Regional Public Schools will postpone Phase 1 students’ return to in-person learning scheduled for tomorrow,” Morris wrote.
He added that he understands the challenge this poses and the disappointment for families, but it is in the best interest of students and staff. The first phase of in-person learning was scheduled to begin Thursday.
“As always, the health and safety of our students and staff are our top priority in determining when to bring them back into the physical classroom. More information about a potential new Phase 1 return date will be shared by this Friday, October 2 once public health authorities have clearer metrics and information.”
Danielle Seltzer, president of the Amherst Pelham Education Association (APEA) also issued a statement, noting that the decision was made by Morris and not due to the health metrics that would require closure for two weeks.
“Our district officials have done the right thing and looked holistically at the sharply rising case count among Amherst residents and we are grateful for their prudence and for erring on the side of community health and safety,” Seltzer wrote.
The union, which represents teachers, paraprofessionals and other staff, will be meeting with district officials Friday to discuss next steps, including the length of closure and impact on subsequent phases of returning students to school, Seltzer said.
The letter from Morris marks a rapid change from Tuesday night, when he told members of the Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional school committees, “We plan to open Thursday.”
Morris had spoken following the Joint Labor Management Safety Committee Tuesday afternoon, a meeting required in a tentative agreement between APEA and the district due to a rise in COVID-19 positive cases, mostly attributable to a cluster of undergraduate students at the University of Massachusetts who live off campus.
Morris said he also had conversations with UMass officials about the cluster, and the lack of evidence of community spread as a result of those positive cases.
APEA wrote on its Facebook page Tuesday evening: “To date, we have been told by the districts that UMass has reported that the students that have tested positive for COVID-19 are isolating off campus and that community spread does not warrant a closure at this time.”
In addition, the union elaborated on ways in which it will keep buildings safe environments.
“The APEA will also be collaborating with the district to support the acquisition of testing for staff and students, as we recognize that access to testing is one of the most important ways to mitigate community spread.”
The tentative agreement under which the schools will operate must still be ratified by the union and the school committees, likely at meetings scheduled for the first week of October. The document will not be released publicly until after it is signed because it is considered part of continuing negotiations, Morris said.
But the union has released aspects of the agreement, including requirements for reaching out to families where English is not their primary language and ensuring school facilities are compliant with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Guidance for Reopening Schools.
Also in the agreement are metrics that would require schools to close, based on both countywide COVID-19 cases and cases in Amherst, Pelham, Shutesbury, and Leverett, the four towns that made up the district.
The seven-day rolling average needs to remain below 28 new cases per week per 100,000 residents in Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden counties, with more weight given to Hampshire County totals, and a 14-day rolling average of positive tests must remain below 2.5%.
“If the metrics fail to be met at any time, the districts will return to ‘full remote’ for all students. Returning to in-person learning can be reinstated after a minimum of two weeks in the full remote stage provided the metrics are satisfied.”
With the cluster of off-campus UMass students, the weighted case rate per 100,000 people in the last seven days was calculated by APEA at 20.8 infections per 100,000 people on Tuesday.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
