Longmeadow School Committee gives updates on school reopening

Sept. 18, 2020 | Miasha Lee

LONGMEADOW – The Longmeadow School Committee met on Sept. 1 and Sept. 8, with both meetings offering a slew of updates, including the discussion of reopening updates, the school lunch menus, a discussion revolving around in-person learning, as well as virtual field trip opportunities.

The Sept. 1 meeting started with the committee giving visitors a chance to speak. One parent, Karina, stated that as recently as a few weeks ago, children who were in kindergarten through Grade 2 were being considered for in-person learning. She also mentioned the committee’s vote to choose hybrid for that younger cohort. However, she said she felt there was not specific consideration for children who have IEPs (Individualized Educational Plans) in that group as well.

At the Aug. 6 meeting, the committee modified their original proposed hybrid plan, changing kindergarten to second grade students from fully in-person to a hybrid model that lines up with the other grades.

Karina stated, “Although the DESE [Department of Elementary and Secondary Education] guidelines say children who cannot learn remotely due to their disability should be prioritized, currently the district is only considering those with the highest complexity cases.”

She encouraged the committee to vote to rapidly return students who require a para professional to the in-person setting ideally within the first two weeks of school returning. Later, she asked the committee to think of the average family who has more than one child that is elementary aged while coping with special needs. “I do encourage the school committee to consider those circumstances when voting on the reopening schedules especially for this very high-needs population,” she said.

Following public comment, Superintendent M. Martin O’Shea proceeded with a slide presentation of reopening updates.

“We have consistently identified a series of what we call reopening contingencies,” O’Shea responded. “These are the concerning factors that we want to pay close attention to in order to ensure a successful opening.”

These factors include the local and regional health metrics, the staffing arrangements that are in place, their ability to maintain the six feet distance standard, the availability of supplies, safety and health protocols and facility readiness.

Over the last month, he explained, the school has been working with Fresh Picks Cafe – a school food service – on logistical changes to how they will operate in terms of providing food service program, what they offer and how it’s packaged.

Fresh Pick’s director of business development Christopher Faro joined the meeting to explain the menu they have available will be limited to two meal choices a day at all grade levels. They will not be offering their cart items at the beginning of school. Everything will be served by their staff, from condiments to utensils. Faro explained he is working on getting plexiglass barriers in place for staff when students check out.

The meeting then turned into a lengthy discussion of adding more in-person learning for students in grades kindergarten through second grade, and other student groups if allowed by local health metrics.

“We all value in-person learning, but the condition has to be right,” O’Shea said. “Our intention would be to provide for as much as in-person learning as we can safely do and as we can reasonably provide and that we have capacity for.”

The committee voted to direct the administration to develop a proposal to return more students to more in-person learning at a school committee meeting no later than Oct. 13. Then, if that proposal were approved, that implementation would not occur until Nov. 2

At the Sept. 8 meeting, the school committee discussed more reopening updates. As mentioned in the Sept. 1 meeting, the committee has discussed some of the reopening contingencies. Those factors being local and regional health metrics, staffing arrangement, their ability to maintain the six feet distance standard, the availability of supplies, safety and health protocols and facility readiness.

O’Shea said, “The committee has made it clear they would be prepared to move to a fully remote model if local health metrics require, but the committee has also asked us to be sure that we’re ready to phase in more in-person learning if conditions allow.”

In regard to staffing, O’Shea explained there are approximately 12 leaves of absences due to child care, child rearing or other contractual obligations across all units. There also have been approximately 10 Unit A-licensed educators – retirements or resignations since July. 1. In addition, approximately 10 Unit A staff have been approved to work remotely, and there are six vacant Unit A positions.

As explained in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act), it “require[s] certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.” These provisions will apply from April. 1 through Dec. 31.

The staffing model that is in place for the elementary grade level team consists of paraprofessionals, a related arts teacher and a special educator for inclusion classrooms. In addition to specialists, homebound teachers and licensed academic tutors are in place for remote support.

Director of Pupil Services Jean Fontaine joined in on the meeting discussing how students with disabilities are served in the midst of the pandemic and through the hybrid model. The July. 9 guidance for reopening and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) guidelines for special education specifically was referenced.

In identifying high needs students for increased in-person learning, Fontaine mentioned the state information management system would give them a report back on students designated high needs.

The guidance also looked at other populations that aren’t necessarily special education students, but more vulnerable learners. Those populations include: English language learners, special Ed ELs (Level 1 and 2), foster care students and students struggling with accessing remote learning.

One of the big tasks, Fontaine said, was that the guidance asked all districts in the Commonwealth to reach out to every family of a student who has an IEP and have a conversation about how the last few months of learning went. They were asked to get the family’s input to develop a COVID-19 Special Education Learning Plan for all IEP students by mid-September. Fontaine stated the state would like those done before students complete in-person learning.

She said, “As of today, we are on track to hopefully hit that target by the end of the week.”

Fontaine welcomed back her preschoolers to in-person learning in six sections – three morning and three afternoons – on Sept. 14, fours days per week. In addition, LINC elementary programs, (BH CTR, WSRS). LLC, LINC middle school and Life Skills program at Longmeadow High School were welcomed back. Wednesdays are remote on Sept. 16 and 23, with the in-person learning on Sept. 30.

Fire Chief John Dearborn said, “Currently, the local numbers look great. We continue to be the low risk early gray color category meaning we have less than five cases, based on public health data, as of today, we have one active case in town.”

For extra curricular activities, O'Shea said they’re going to continue to do virtual activities and put together a list of activities that can sustained amidst the pandemic.

O’Shea mentioned teachers are focusing on virtual field trips. There are no international or out of state trips planned. Nothing that involves bus travel will be permitted until further notice.

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