The state is releasing guidelines today as to how local schools will handle re-opening in response to COVID-19. Fall River is still evaluating how it will proceed.
State education officials are calling for local school districts to devise three models for re-opening: one for entirely remote learning, one for a hybrid of remote and in-person instruction, and an in-person model that complies with new health and safety protocols. Those in-person protocols will require the reconfiguration of classrooms, schedules, and other elements of the traditional school day. All adults and students in second grade and above will be required to wear masks or face coverings, and time for “mask breaks” will be built in throughout the day. Exceptions will be made for medical conditions and other health and safety factors, and students in kindergarten and first grade “should be encouraged” to wear masks or face shields. Classrooms will be re-arranged to accommodate physical distancing — the state is calling for schools to aim for a distance of six feet when feasible, with three feet the minimum distance allowed. There will not be a prescribed maximum on group sizes, as long as the distancing requirements are met.
During our weekly interview with Mayor Paul Coogan, he said it’s still premature to announce how the city will handle the start of school this fall.
Comments are closed.