MELROSE — Students will be headed back to class on Wednesday, Sept. 1.

“The first day of school is right around the corner and as much as we all hoped that we would be done with COVID-19 protocols and restrictions, we will need to continue to be vigilant in order to ensure that we do not just open schools this fall, but do everything we can to keep our students and staff safe so our kids can stay in school,” stated Superintendent Dr. Julie Kukenberger in an email sent to the Melrose Weekly News. “As always, student and staff health and safety remain my number one priority. This is a responsibility I take very seriously and am honored that you trust us with your children every day.”

Kukenberger stated that, “All health and safety requirements issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education from the previous school year have been lifted, and all schools are required to be in-person full-time, five days per week.”

“On July 30, 2021, DESE issued guidance for the 2021-2022 school year,” Kukenberger continued. “The fall 2021 DESE guidance strongly recommends that districts and schools implement masking for unvaccinated individuals and notes that masking on buses for all individuals is a current federal requirement for all schools and districts.”

Kukenberger said that the back to school plan will continue utilizing safety protocols used last year such as universal indoor masking, HEPA air filters in every learning and office space and disinfecting protocols in the 2021-2022 school year for families, students, and staff who will be re-entering the city’s schools for the first time since March 2020.

“The COVID-19 pandemic will continue to challenge us, yet, we have so much to look forward to in the coming year,” said Kukenberger. “I am confident that together, our students and staff will continue to exceed our expectations and thrive in spite of COVID’s attempts to disrupt our lives.”

Kukenberger noted that universal masking will be required when students, staff and visitors are inside school buildings. She also said people who are ill or are symptomatic need to stay home.

“With parental consent, all students can participate in the MPS routine COVID-19 safety checks,” stated Kukenberger.

The superintendent also said social distancing will be encouraged when people are not wearing a mask and staff members will be required to be vaccinated.

The following is a full list of symptoms for which caregivers should monitor their children, and staff should monitor themselves.

Unvaccinated individuals and any close contacts presenting these symptoms should follow testing and quarantine response protocols as outlined in Section 2 of the August 13, 2021 DESE/DPH Protocols for Responding to COVID19 Scenarios SY21-22.

Vaccinated individuals who are not close contacts should follow the testing and quarantine response protocols if they are experiencing symptoms in bold. These individuals may also seek clinical guidance to assess the need for PCR testing if they have other symptoms on this list.

COVID-19 symptoms list

• Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills or shaking chills.

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.

• New loss of taste or smell.

• Muscle aches or body aches.

• Cough (not due to other known causes, such as a chronic cough).

• Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms.

• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms.

• Headache when in combination with other symptoms.

• Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms.

• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms.

Vaccination clinic

In partnership with the city, MPS will host a vaccination clinic on Monday, Aug. 30 from 2-7 p.m.

Any community member over the age of 12 who needs a first or second dose is invited to participate.

The Massachusetts Vax Bus will be located on the secondary campus between the MVMMS and MHS.

Additional parking is available at the Knoll across the Lynn Fells Parkway from secondary campus.

No pre-registration is required.

All Melrose Public Schools staff members and volunteers are required to be vaccinated. Exemptions are permitted for those with medical conditions or sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance. Staff members with an exemption will be required to wear a well-fitted mask at all times when they are inside MPS school buildings. Face masks are not required when outside, during mask breaks, or while eating or drinking.

Staff who are not fully vaccinated must participate in free, on-site, weekly Routine COVID-19 Safety Checks (weekly COVID-19 testing).

MPS students are not required to have the COVID-19 vaccination; however, all eligible students between the age 12 and up are encouraged to be vaccinated if they can.

Consistent with the CDC’s and AAP’s recommendation, and current School Committee Policy EBCFA: Face Coverings policy, MPS will continue to require all staff and students, vaccinated and unvaccinated, to wear well-fitting masks when they are inside any Melrose Public Schools facilities. Face masks are not required when outside, during mask breaks, while eating or drinking, or when a vaccinated individual works alone or in a segregated space such as a private office or cubical.

Although most students do not ride buses or vans in Melrose due to the size of the city, all passengers and drivers must wear a mask on school buses and vans. In addition, each vehicle must have windows open at least four inches at all times to maximize air exchanges. For more information, residents should review the CDC’s transportation guidance.

Frequent hand washing

One of the many things Melrose students and staff did well last year was frequent hand washing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping hands clean is one important step people can take to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Hand washing is one of the best ways to protect ourselves, families, and one another from getting sick.

“The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has excellent resources to help students, staff, and families understand when and how they should wash their hands,” said Kukenberger.

MPS COVID-19 Testing Program

This fall, MPS will offer three types of COVID-19 testing programs to monitor the health and well-being of students and staff. All students and staff can and are strongly encouraged to participate in the COVID-19 testing program, vaccinated or unvaccinated. The three testing options include:

Symptomatic Testing: For individuals who present symptoms while at school.

• Samples are collected at school using the BinaxNOW rapid antigen nasal swab test.

• Those testing negative with isolated/mild symptoms can stay in school.

• Test and Stay: For individuals who are identified as close contacts while at school.

• Samples are collected at school using the BinaxNOW rapid antigen nasal swab test.

Those who are asymptomatic and negative stay in school; positive sent home to isolate.

• Tests are administered daily for at least five days from the date of exposure

Routine COVID-19 Safety Checks for all students and staff; will occur weekly.

• Samples are collected at school.

•If a positive pool, follow up testing at school with BinaxNOW rapid antigen nasal swab test.

MPS is streamlining and improving the consent process. Families will be able to opt into the MPS COVID-19 testing program directly in Aspen as part of their back-to-school paperwork (AAU Policy, handbook, etc.).

Physical distancing

One of the School Department’s top priorities this school year will be to get all students back to school, learning in person, five days a week, all day, every day. Therefore, MPS will not be implementing any physical distance requirements; however, the district will do its best to maintain physical distance whenever possible.

Lunch during the 2021-2022 school year will look more traditional, as we prioritize all students learning in person all day, every day.