4 Boston Schools Resume In-Person Learning For High Needs Students
BOSTON (CBS) -- Four Boston schools will reopen for high needs students in special education on Monday. The schools are the Carter School, Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, McKinley Schools, and Henderson Inclusion School.
The Boston Public Health Commission approved the reopenings.
There are new guidelines in place to increase safety in school buildings for staff and students.
Boston Public Schools will provide free weekly COVID testing for teachers, they will have a 60 day supply of PPE, including masks, eye protection, gloves and gowns and the city is installing air purifier units in the classrooms that will be used regularly.
The staff selected for in-person teaching will be those who opted in.
"We continue to meet with School Leaders and district and union leadership to discuss the best way to return to in-person learning," said a letter from Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. "We have heard from many of you that while remote learning has greatly improved, for many students in-person learning is the best approach."
On Oct. 22, Boston suspended in-person and hybrid learning due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Two weeks ago, Gov. Baker announced the state had a new method to assess coronavirus transmission rates in communities. The shift was aimed at keeping more students in school since "there is clear and convincing scientific data that shows learning in a classroom, as long as people are playing by the rules, does not lead to higher transmission rates," Baker said.
