Published April 24, 2020
MELROSE — People probably wake each day wondering what world they’re living in. Now you can formally add the city’s public school students to the list.
On Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker ordered that all schools in the state be closed for the rest of the academic year. There hasn’t been any strong guidance about how to operate schools safely as the state works to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the Republican governor said.
“We believe therefore that students cannot safety return to school,” Baker said. All non-emergency child care programs will remain closed until June 29, he added.
Melrose Supt. of Schools Cyndy Taymore added:
“While we support the efforts to combat the virus and limit the spread among our citizens, we are at the same time terribly saddened by the closure through June. The academic, emotional, and personnel impact on students, families, and staff cannot be underestimated. Remote learning cannot replace interpersonal and responsive classrooms in which children have a wide network of adults who support them as well as the important relationships with their peers.
“Melrose Public Schools has created a detailed approach to remote learning that adheres to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s guidelines and at the same time provides for the advancement of learning. Information regarding our remote learning, including special education, is on our website. It includes both student and staff expectations for the completion of work and for communication with students and families. As we enter Phase III, we will make more adjustments to our learning plans as soon as the (state Education) Commissioner provides updated guidelines.
“The disruption to the normal course of a school year has implications beyond the classroom. The athletics, clubs, art, and music that showcase our students’ talents and are important personally are all cancelled. Traditional grade-level activities such as field days, moving on ceremonies, and graduation will not take place. Instead, we are returning or suspending fees for numerous activities and services across schools. We are brainstorming replacements so we can celebrate our seniors and fifth graders. At the same time, we have begun to plan for next year with course selection at the secondary level and class placement at the elementary level.
“Because we are continuing to pay employees for whom we budgeted as well as all special education out of district costs, the budget is being expended as planned. The cancellation of building rentals and the closure of Education Stations will have an impact on next year’s budget because both produce revenue that is used to offset the school budget in the next year.
“Of a greater concern is the impact of the crisis on the city and state budget. We fully expect that funding we had originally planned to fund next year’s budget will not be available. The extent of the impact is unknown at this time,” Taymore wrote in a response to a couple of emailed questions.
