Burlington Reopening Update: Masks Required For All Students

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington Public Schools will require all students to wear masks when attending in person, district officials said in an update Thursday, going beyond state guidance requiring masks above first grade.

Face shields may be used only in addition to face masks, not as a replacement. Superintendent Eric Conti cited their limited ability to fully protect against droplets that spread the virus.

District officials have said they are planning mixed in-person and remote models, with elementary students attending in person every morning and older students alternating days.

Parents can choose to have their children learn remotely, and will be able to change their minds. A new survey on parent plans is expected next week.

The district made a slight shift to the proposed calendar, in response to a state delay of the first day of school. The new plan would have grades 1-6 and 9 return Sept. 10 and the remainder Sept. 14.

In Thursday's update, Conti and Assistant Superintendent Patrick Larkin shared details on protocols to protect against the virus. The district is planning changes to allow regular hand-washing and sanitizing, eating with six-feet distancing and staggered pick-up and drop-off. To reduce crowding, hallways will be one-way or split into lanes. The schools' HVAC systems are being inspected for ventilation issues.

Schools will all have isolation spaces for potential coronavirus patients. The schools will not screen students, but will ask parents to screen them before they leave for school each morning.

Cohorts will be designed so siblings will go to school on the same days, even if they are split between middle and high schools.

Conti also shared more details on remote learning. Based on feedback, the district plans to have more synchronous remote learning, as well as attendance tracking and grading. The district will use Seesaw and Google Classroom as unified learning platforms, and workbooks and other physical materials will be available. 1:1 iPads will be available for home use.

The district will provide more support to families with technology than in the fall, Larkin said.

Draft schedules will be distributed next week, Conti said in a letter to parents Thursday.

The full video update is available here, from BCAT.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.