[Superintendent's Update] Superintendent's Update

[Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update]

Dear Needham Public Schools Families:



This afternoon, Governor Baker and Commissioner of the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Jeff Riley released their initial
guidance about reopening schools this fall.  I very much appreciate the
time and thought that went into the development of this guidance,
especially with its focus on prioritizing student and staff health and
safety.


The overall goal is the return of as many students as possible to in-person
school settings in order to best meet students’ academic, social, and
emotional needs. I encourage you to read the Commissioner’s full
report at Initial
Fall School Reopening Guidance <http://www.doe.mass.edu/>.



Needham Public Schools administrators and staff, guided by the COVID-19
Advisory Committee, will immediately review the guidelines and continue our
planning for a safe reopening of school in the fall.  We understand that
these initial guidelines do not address every topic or concern and that
there will be additional guidance forthcoming from DESE later in July.
Following are key components of the guidance we received today:

·         Current medical research supports a safe in-person return to
school - with preventive measures in place - as infection and transmission
rates are lower for children than adults.

·         Preventive measures include masks/face coverings, physical
distancing, hand washing, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.

·         Masks/face coverings will be required for all students in Grade 2
and above and for all adults.

·         Schools should maximize physical distance wherever possible,
however, based upon current medical research, and in conjunction with other
preventative measures, three feet is the minimum distance required.



The guidance directs school districts to develop three separate plans - one
for return to full in-person instruction with safety requirements, one for
hybrid learning that combines in-person and remote learning, and one for
full remote learning.



Based upon the current medical situation and the trajectory of the disease
in Massachusetts, the expectation today is that students will return to
full in-person instruction in September; however, that is subject to change
based upon how the medical situation develops.  Furthermore, we will need
to analyze and consider how our schools and classrooms can be organized to
facilitate the health and safety measures outlined; this will be
challenging work and likely result in tradeoffs to programs and the
traditional school day.



I acknowledge that there are more questions than answers at this time; rest
assured we will continue to communicate with you in the coming weeks and
months. Thank you for your partnership and support as we work together
during these challenging times.



Respectfully,


Dan Gutekanst
Superintendent of Schools
Needham Public Schools
1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492
781-455-0400 x11203
dan_gutekanst at needham.k12.ma.us

ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance
services are available to you free of charge. Contact your child’s school
for assistance.

Chinese (Simplified): 请注意：如果您的母语不是英语，我们将免费提供您语言辅助服务。如需协助，请与您孩子 的学校联系。

Spanish: ATENCION: Si usted habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, hay
servicios de asistencia lingüística disponibles gratis. Contacte la escuela
de su hijo para asistencia.

Russian: ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы не говорите на английском языке, для вас
доступны бесплатные языковые сервисы на вашем языке. Обратитесь за помощью
в школу, в которой учится ваш ребенок.
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