Barnstable Schools Delay Return To In-Person Classes Another Week

BARNSTABLE, MA — Barnstable students won't return to in-person learning immediately after the winter break and will instead have remote learning until Jan. 11, school officials announced.

Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown said the pivot to remote learning is a proactive strategy intended to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus following the holidays. The district used a similar strategy after the Thanksgiving break because of the higher risk of COVID-19 spread at family gatherings.

As of Wednesday, 14 in-person Barnstable students were in isolation after contracting the coronavirus. A total of 101 students have tested positive since school reopened.

"Our priority is to keep our schools as healthy and safe as possible, so that we can continue with in-person learning for the long term," Mayo-Brown said in a statement. "The one-week period of remote learning during the week of Jan. 4 allows for a quarantine period post-holiday."

Students in the following programs will still get in-person learning on Jan. 7 and 8:

• NECC
• ILC
• ECELC
• Transitions/foundations at Braintree High School