Smithfield Elementary Schools Move to Distance Learning

SMITHFIELD, RI—Smithfield Elementary students began distance learning on Monday, joining the district's other grades to learn from home until the new year.

On Dec. 10, the Smithfield School Committee decided to move the entire district to distance learning. Vincent Gallagher Middle School began distance learning Thursday, December 10 and Smithfield High School students began distance learning on Tuesday, December 15.

"When school begins on January 4th, our plan is to return to full, in-person instruction, however, we may either remain in full distance learning or transition to the limited in-person scenario depending on the local conditions and/or decisions made at the state level,"said Superintendent Judy Paolucci in a letter to families.

Paolucci said if the school transitions to the limited in-person scenario, the schools will be open with 25% capacity. The decision will be discussed at the Dec. 21 Smithfield School Committee meeting.

"While the majority of students will participate virtually, school teams have identified at-risk and IEP students who will continue to attend school in-person. The middle and high schools would no longer follow an A/B schedule. Rather, all students would be expected to participate in virtual lessons daily," she said.

The decision to switch to distance learning followed a week during which Smithfield Public Schools reported 28 new COVID-19 cases. The district has since experienced a drop in cases, reporting 17 on Friday. In total, Smithfield schools have experienced 158 positive cases.

"The drop in weekly cases was encouraging," said Paolucci in a follow-up letter. "Let’s all do our best to keep our holidays shiny and bright while also observing social distancing. We want 2021 to look better than 2020!"