Brewster To Return To In-Classroom Instruction March 22

BREWSTER, NY — Brewster school officials plan to return to in-classroom instruction full-time starting March 22 for kindergarten through fifth grade and for grades 6-12 April 5.

"However, please know that this a fluid situation that is dependent on a number of factors, some of which require your urgent response," Dr. Laurie Bandlow and Dr. Michelle Gosh wrote in a letter to parents Friday.

Parents must notify the district about their choice for in-classroom or all-remote by Wednesday. District officials sent a form along with the letter.

Some of the factors:

• Student scheduling: The speed at which we can receive back a commitment from parents is critical. Principals and Assistant Principals need a commitment to a preferred learning option (Full In-Person or All-Remote) in order to adjust student schedules.
• Transportation routing: The Transportation Department needs a commitment to a preferred learning option as well in order to adjust routes. Parents/guardians are encouraged to utilize District transportation services in order to avoid competing traffic during arrival/dismissal.
• Delivery of barriers: Barriers will be placed on each desk. A number of barriers have already been delivered in preparation for us welcoming back our students with IEPs next week. It is anticipated that the remaining order will be received over the next few weeks. However, as many school districts are also increasing their orders, delivery schedules have been extended. An example of what these barriers look like can be found here.
• Adjustments as to where students eat lunch will need to be made, based on the number of students in a given learning space.

There will no longer be a "hybrid" learning option. "Hybrid existed only because we could not welcome all students back at one time given social distancing guidelines," district officials said.

All students and staff will remain masked at all times with the exception of snack time, lunch, and supervised mask breaks. When a student is not masked, they will be at least six feet apart from other individuals.