Marblehead Schools To Switch To Remote Learning Monday

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Marblehead Public Schools will switch to a fully remote learning model starting Monday through Jan. 8 because of rising coronavirus cases in the town and across the region.

Marblehead Superintendent of Schools John Buckey said in a letter to the school community that teachers will be given a choice of whether to work in school or remotely. He said special education will continue in-person on a case-by-case and program-by-program decision by the Student Services Department.

"This decision anticipates that numbers in town will likely continue to rise, as they have been, and in the idea that we wanted to give teachers adequate time to plan lessons for early January," Buckey said. "While the likelihood is high that the numbers will continue to rise, if they are lower we reserve the right to revisit this decision and to possibly return to in-person learning sooner."

Buckey said this week's numbers, which will be released on Friday, will provide a "threshold" to guide the decision when to return to hybrid learning on January.

"By making the decision based on information now we give teachers and families time to plan that making the call three days prior to return (for Jan. 4) will have eliminated," he said. "We felt it is easier — while appreciating that nothing is easy — to move from remote to in-person than families preparing for in-person and having students move to remote."

Buckey said his Reopening Committee, which was set up to meet each week or two, met three times in the past week in planning for this decision.

"It was a very thoughtful conversation and approach," he said.

Marblehead High winter athletic practices started this week, but will be the topic of a discussion at the School Committee meeting on Thursday.

"While we all recognize the important role athletics play for students, we struggle with the conflicting message of continuing in-person sports while moving to remote teaching and learning," Buckey said.

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