Marblehead Leaning Towards Remote Or Hybrid School Reopening

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Students in Marblehead are unlikely to start the school year with full-time, in-person classes, based on preliminary plans from Marblehead CHarter School and the Marblehead Public School system.

It "pains me to say that we will be unable to return to full days of in-person learning in September," Marblehead Charter Head of School Peter Cohen wrote in a letter to parents.

In June, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education charged school districts across the state with developing three plans for reopening in the fall: one that would involve full-time, in-person learning, one that would involve full-time, remote learning, and a third, hybrid model combining remote and in-person learning.

Related story: Marblehead Teachers Want Remote Start To School Year

The in-person and hybrid models would require configuring classrooms and school buildings to allow for adequate social distancing. School systems would also need to purchase thousands of dollars in personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies.

In surveys, 65 percent of Marblehead parents would support a return to full-time, in-person classes. But 58 percent of the school system's staff said they are uncomfortable with that option.

"The likelihood of MPS being able to implement all of those protocols and return to full time, in-person learning with fidelity and confidence is low," Marblehead Superintendent John Buckey wrote in his own letter to parents. "With each day that goes by, the feasibility of the full in-person option decreases."

School districts have until Aug. 10 to finalize plans for the start of the school year and forward them to DESE. The Marblehead School Committee will vote on which plan to forward to DESE when it meets virtually on Thursday at 7 p.m.