Burlington Schools Plan Full Return For Middle School

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington Public School officials have drawn up new schedules to bring elementary and middle school students in full time in April, they said in a video update Friday.

In accordance with state guidelines, elementary students will go first, returning to full in-person learning April 5. Middle schools will follow on April 28.

Due to a recent change in state guidance, hybrid learning will not count toward learning time requirements after those dates. There is not yet a deadline for high school students.

Under the new state rules, remote learning will only count for families that choose it.

The district sent a survey to elementary families about model switches Friday, and another will go out for middle school families this week. The district will assume hybrid students will go full return unless they hear otherwise.

"If there is a significant number of changes, we may not be able to meet the April 5th deadline for all students," Superintendent Eric Conti said.

The state is giving districts four to six weeks to accommodate all requests for switches, Conti said.

As part of the early stage of expanding in-person learning, the district will not be expanding bus ridership or afterschool program hours; those expansions may come in late April.

District officials also noted that the state's vaccine timeline may not cover all teachers by the mandated full return; teachers who are teaching remotely for health reasons will be moved to in-person assignments last.

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