Published August 5, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Officials answered a variety of school reopening questions submitted by parents during a July 30 meeting.
School Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman recalled that the committee had originally planned on hosting an in-person meeting in order to answer questions directly from parents, but said logistical issues prevented that from taking place.
“We looked at opportunities to do this in-person and also be able to broadcast this meeting live,” said Hayman. “The reality is the discussion we are having impacts over 1,500 families and our educators. We want everybody to be able to see this and to only select 25 to 50 people to have in-person just didn’t seem right.”
Superintendent Kristen Vogel is recommending that a hybrid plan be utilized this fall, which involves having students attend school two full-days a week and utilizing remote learning three days a week. The proposal has been criticized by a number of families in town, particularly on social media.
According to two surveys, 75 percent of parents and 52.4 percent of teachers said they preferred returning to school buildings. The survey also revealed 39.5 percent of educators reported being “very hesitant” about going back.
Hayman said families emailed over 150 questions, and officials answered a number of the questions during the meeting. Town Administrator Rob Dolan served as the moderator for the Q&A session.
School Committee Vice Chairman Rich Sjoberg asked about the cleaning protocols that will be utilized for the schools.
Vogel said doorknobs, push bars and stair railings will be cleaned between three and four times a day. She said elementary school desks will need to be cleaned at the end of the day. She said the desks at the middle school and the high school will need to be wiped down with disinfectant wipes while classes are changing. She said bathrooms will need to be cleaned between three and four times per day.
The superintendent also said the school system will have more custodians in the schools during the day instead of after school or at night.
A parent inquired if school ventilation systems have been inspected recently.
Dolan said the ventilation systems at all of the town’s municipal buildings are inspected internally as well as by an outside company. He said a company will be inspecting the ventilation systems before the first day of school.
Another parent asked about mask regulations.
Vogel said DESE is recommending that students and staff wear cloth masks. She said students in grades 2-12 are required to wear masks, while students in kindergarten and first grade are encouraged to wear masks. She said the School Department has purchased enough disposable masks for the first three months of school. She also said masks will need to comply with the School Department’s dress code.
In response to a question about sanitization, Vogel said students will wash their hands frequently throughout the school day.
A parent asked if teachers will have virtual office hours.
Vogel said the hybrid plan school officials are currently recommending would allow teachers to hold virtual office hours on Wednesdays.
Another parent asked how remote learning will be different this year compared to last spring.
Vogel said the remote learning plan being proposed for next year is “much more robust.”
“It will mirror what a regular school day looks like,” said Vogel.
Hayman agreed.
“We all agree that we can’t repeat what happened in the spring,” said Hayman. “We are not going to go back to that.”
A parent asked if Lynnfield Community Schools’ before school and afterschool childcare programs will be offered this year. Another parent asked whether the programs can be offered before the start of the school.
Vogel said there is a possibility LCS’ childcare programs could be offered before the start of school. She and Community Schools Director Sarah Perkins have held preliminary discussions about LCS’ childcare programs for next year. Perkins told the Villager LCS’ programming for next year is “a work in progress.”
Sjoberg announced on Monday that Lynnfield Recreation has extended two of its summer programs, Recreation Station and Rec. Jr., through Thursday, Sept. 3.
A number of parents asked what happens if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in one of the schools. Hayman said the district’s COVID Response Team, which includes Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Glenn Davis and DPW Director John Tomasz, will be answering those questions during the committee’s 8 a.m. meeting on Friday.
In response to a question about the METCO program, Vogel said METCO students will be able to access the same resources as Lynnfield students.
A parent inquired if students will be required to take COVID-19 tests before the school year begins.
Vogel said the district is currently not mandating that students get a coronavirus test before the first day of school. She said students who are sick need to stay home and if a student gets sick in school, she said a nurse will take the student’s temperature.
Another parent asked how parents will be notified if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19.
Vogel said the families of students who were in close proximity to the person diagnosed will be notified immediately. She also said a letter will be emailed to parents. School Committee member Tim Doyle added that federal HIPAA security regulations will prevent the School Department from announcing who is sick.
Another parent inquired if students will be instructed to quarantine before the school year begins.
Vogel said the district will not be requiring students to quarantine before the school year begins, but said the state’s new travel order recommends that people who travel to a high-risk state either quarantine for 14 days or take a COVID-19 test.
In response to a question about mental health, Vogel said each school has adjustment counselors and school psychologists who will be working with students who need support.
Doyle urged parents to remain patient during the reopening process.
“As much as parents want their kids back in school, we have a real balancing act to do,” said Doyle. “We have to reconcile the faculty’s concerns with the parents’ wants to make this work. As a committee, we understand that we are not going to make everybody 100 percent happy. What we are going to try and do is to make sure our students get the best education possible under these circumstances. There is going to be some trial and error, and I would ask families to be patient with us. There might be more errors before we get this thing perfect.”
Hayman encouraged parents to keep submitting questions to school officials.
“The more questions we get, the better we can make this plan,” said Hayman.
