The following letter was sent from Newton Public School superintendent David Fleishman to the high schools’ faculty and staff on Friday.
Dear High School Colleagues,
I am writing to give you an update regarding where we are with high school planning. On Monday night, the High School Working Group will provide an update to the School Committee that will recommend a return to in-person learning for any and all students and families who wish to return. While I recognize that shifting our educational model in the middle of the year is a significant challenge given how hard you are already working, I believe that this is the right thing to do for so many of our students who are reporting that they are suffering emotionally due to loneliness and isolation.
This plan will include a phased in approach so that we can provide as smooth of a transition as possible, providing time for you to plan and prepare to teach in a new model. As a first step to expanding in-person learning, all faculty who do not have an approved remote accommodation will need to work in the building at least one full day a week beginning the week of November 30. As of January 4, 2021, all faculty and staff are expected to work in the building every school day, and work responsibilities will include proctoring MCAS and PSAT exams. We will begin the new hybrid plan on January 27. We will also continue to collaboratively negotiate with the NTA about implementation of this new model, including the impact it has on working conditions for faculty and staff.
While COVID cases are increasing in Massachusetts, the evidence shows that COVID does not spread in schools when appropriate precautions are in place, such as mask wearing and social distancing. The working group and others have found that the tangible benefits to students outweighs the complexities and trade-offs of reopening schools for in-person learning. We have learned from our successful elementary opening that heeding the advice of our health experts is critical, and I’m confident that we will be able to do the same at our Newton high schools.
I have attended several of the High School Working Group meetings and have been most impressed by the thoughtful and collaborative nature of their work as they move through the obstacles to offering in-person learning that we identified this summer. Their recommendations are based on extensive research, both internally and externally. They have spent significant time soliciting feedback from NPS students, staff, and families through surveys. Group members have also conducted interviews with faculty, administrators and students in other districts in Massachusetts, as well as other states, to understand the hybrid models that have been implemented, including what has been most effective.
I have been personally following the development of various high school hybrid models since late August when my sister started teaching in hybrid in Connecticut. She was not shy about sharing her initial concerns as teaching students in person and at home at the same time is a daunting task. After more than two months, she says it is still quite challenging, but is heartened by the fact that her students are both learning and doing pretty well emotionally.
While we will obviously have more specifics in the coming days, I thought it would be useful to provide you with this update. I wanted to give you this information as soon as possible as I know you may have to shift child care and other personal responsibilities and arrangements. If you need assistance with expanding your child’s attendance at an NPS elementary school, please reach out to our Human Resources department at [email protected].
Henry and Mark will provide you with further information in the coming days. Have a nice weekend and take care.
Best,
David
Just ignore the pandemic, the spiking numbers, and that many posit that the worst is yet to come. David, make sure the sole focus is remedying the emotional suffering of the kids. What about the hundreds of faculty and staff that work in the high schools? Does their emotional, psychological, and mental health factor into this decision, or are their lives expendable? It is time for the naysayers to blame the teachers (and invariably the NTA) who simply don’t feel safe in the buildings. They prefer remote learning and lounging in their pajamas all day. Lastly, when will the testing and surveillnace be in place? Given that high schools are seen as likely having higher levels of transmission, one can presume it these two pieces will be in place come January 27, 2021? Solid work, Dr. Fleishman.
Supermarkets never locked down. All of our peer districts have in-person high school. Private schools are largely back. Many colleges are back. The 20-21 school year should have been full, in-person since day one. Our leaders have jettisoned our children with no countervailing benefit.
Let’s take a deep breath, go past the hysterics, and look at the data. Looking at countries that have sent the kids back to school (basically all countries except some places in the US), teachers are LESS likely to contract COVID than the general population. As of a few months ago, there have been NO documented cases of a teacher anywhere in the world contracting COVID from a pupil. If anyone has heard of a case popping up, please tell me.
I hope the NPS can, for a change, exceed expectations, and put together something that is academically strong. We need to emphasize academics to make up for the inequitable NPS deficit relative to private schools and our peer districts.
Dear jason, a well-meaning group of parents, teachers, and citizens comprise the High School Working Group and have been meeting regularly to discuss the full range of issues around re-opening the high schools. If you look at the minutes of their meetings (available to all), there’s been no hint of their blaming or criticizing teachers or wanting to put them or the children in harm’s way.
But we haven’t even yet seen their full report and recommendations. I don’t see how your premature characterization of their efforts can be helpful for the community at large. Let’s give it a chance to be presented to the School Committee and evaluate it on the merits.
Jason,
No honest person could read this letter or evaluate the work of the SC and Superintendent and accuse them of ignoring the pandemic. Without a doubt the concerns of the teachers have driven the narrative to this point, for better or worse.
The data is in. Schools are safe.
Some people don’t “feel safe” on airplanes despite the fact that they objectively are a lot safer than most other forms of transportation. Those people are of course free to “feel” however they like, however they don’t get to impose their fears on others.
Jeffrey – I don’t know about you, but when I go to the supermarket, I’m not in a small, poorly ventilated room with up to 14 other people for at least an hour.
Colleges are largely open because they have robust testing procedures to ensure that students and staff are healthy. However in the last two weeks, Covid numbers have increased dramatically at MIT, BU, and Northeastern.
Many of our peer communities have testing – that is how Wellesley realized they had to shut down until after Thanksgiving. As a high school teacher, I’d feel very comfortable coming into the building if the district could offer testing. Newton South has already had four cases with a very small amount of students and teachers in the building.
Paul and Jeffrey,
Will testing and surveillance be in place? If not, why? These would both be a logical step in quelling a lot of the angst that people are experiencing. As I have done with Paul in the past, I will ask all of those who support in school learning the same question: would you be willing to work in a building with 1000 students and 300+ faculty and staff five days a week? I am not sure how people can realistically claim that social distancing is plausible–it won’t happen.
Craig – Teachers at the elementary and MS level who didn’t “feel comfortable” going into the schools had three choices: get over it, resign, or retire.
Jason,
Last night there was no mention of surveillance testing, and I believe that is a logical step to get EVERYONE back to school. However, that being said. There won’t be 1000 kids at school per day. There could be two cohorts, three cohorts or four depending on the number of students who OPT for hyflex.
But, I support in school learning because my child is totally isolated in her room from 9:15 AM to 3:55 PM with a short lunch break. That is NO way to exist for a once happy social child. This is her first year at South, and she has FOUR fabulous major teachers and one teacher that did not make the online transition well (honestly, I don’t think he is a strong teacher in general). That one class causes more anxiety and unhappiness, especially being alone (and not knowing one single student in the class, and there was no community building). So even though she has some amazing teachers, that one negative teacher ruins two days a week because of the misery of being isolated and alone. Better to be in person and at least interact with someone.
Unequivocally, I would be enthusiastic to work in any school that follows the DESE protocols. I know an 84 year old former Newton teacher, who told me that she is sickened by the plight of Newton’s children, and she is wants to do her part to help to bring kids back school. She will volunteer without pay to teach again (NPS administration can email me for her phone number).
Surveillance testing sounds nice. If we can do it, great. Yes, some districts have it, but many do not. I have not heard of any evidence of transmission country or district-level differences related to testing. If anyone has this evidence, please tell me. Also, my earlier request remains. If anyone has evidence of pupil to teacher transmission, please tell me.
In our family we are strongly supporting opening all the schools. We originally moved to Newton for the prospect of our future kid having access to great public schools. The NPS was good during elementary school, but unfortunately when our child was to go to middle school the pandemic struck and the Newton Public Schools became one of the worst in the area with very little in person learning. We are the most angry about the NTA’s unreasonable demands, which no other employer could match, but we also think the school committee and superintendent should have done a much better job. We were so lucky to find a private school position for our child, so now our family no longer suffer from the isolation and poor education that NPS has to offer. We pray to God that all teachers and the school committee will consider our children’s mental well being, their education and their future development as the first priority.
@NewtonMom – 4 cohorts, 500 kids per day. How will your freshman be taught when 3/4 of the days, her teachers are with the 1/4 of the class live and she’s home. The back-to-the-building plan has not been finalized, only proposed. A 2 cohort plan would at least have the students in school 2 days a week. And that would mean 1000 kids in the building at one.
Hybrid is the worst of both worlds, and a 4 cohort system would be the worst hybrid choice.
We need vaccines, tracing, and a 100% return in January. (I know, vaccines will take a bit longer than that, but, the sooner, the better)