Needham Schools Hybrid Start Postponed: Superintendent

NEEDHAM, MA — Needham students are still starting school on Sept. 14 but instead of the planned hybrid start, the district decided to postpone the hybrid model and start with remote classes for the first two weeks.

Needham Superintendent Dan Gutekanst announced the postponement on Friday. Remote classes will start on Sept. 14 and until Sept. 29th when in person learning starts for all students in grades Preschool to 12.

Gutekanst said the district is giving the maintenance staff more time to make repairs and updates to the buildings to make sure they are ready for students and staff. He added that the updates are related to the buildings' ventilation systems.

"I regret sending this information to you with only ten or so days to go with that start of the school year, but my number one priority has been - and will remain - the health, safety, and wellbeing of each student and staff member. Nothing else is more important to me, and I thought I should make this decision now so that families have at least some time to plan for their children to be learning at home remotely for the first two weeks of the school year," the announcement reads.

Gutekanst reassured families that more information would come about specific plans and how the remote start will work. Needham's full reopening plan is online.