Barnstable Schools Release School-By-School Reopening Plan

BARNSTABLE, MA — Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown announced new details pertaining to Barnstable Public Schools' reopening plan.

Schools have until July 31 to complete and submit a preliminary reopening plan and then must provide finalized planning documents no later than Aug. 10 to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Educations. Schools statewide were instructed to come up with plans for in-person, remote and hybrid learning.

Mayo-Brown said the plans could change as new state guidance and public health information becomes available and asked that the community be patient while school officials determine what's in the best interest of students and faculty.

Mayo-Brown broke down how each school in the district plans to approach reopening. The Enoch Cobb Early Learning Center will prioritize in-person learning. Mayo-Brown said there also be a different plan for families that choose the remote learning option.

At Hyannis West, Centerville, West Villages, Barnstable Community Innovation School and Barnstable West Barnstable Elementary, the plan is to prioritize in-person learning. Mayo-Brown said those schools will have in-person learning on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday — and remote learning on Wednesdays.

Social distancing of at least 6 feet will be implemented, and all adults and students in grades 2 and above will be required to wear masks.

Kindergarten and grade 1 students will be encouraged to wear masks but are not required to. Teachers at those grade levels will work with students to teach them about the healthy habit of wearing masks and will work to build it as a future expectation.

Mayo-Brown said Barnstable High School, Barnstable Intermediate School and Barnstable United Elementary will require hybrid models because of space.

"Due to the size of enrollment at each of those schools and the physical distancing requirements, we cannot bring back all students to in-person at once," Mayo-Brown said.

For these three schools, school officials will use cohort models where some students are on site, while others will learn remotely. Under the plan, students assigned to cohort A will attend in-person classes on Monday and Tuesday and learn remotely Wednesday through Friday. Cohort B would have their in-person classes on Thursday and Friday and remote classes the other three days.

Mayo-Brown said there would also be a third group for students the district knows need in-person learning on a daily basis. Students with learning disabilities and English learning students will be prioritized for in-person learning. Children of Barnstable Public School staff may also qualify for cohort C, Mayo-Brown said.

Under the draft, in-person learning would be phased in, Mayo-Brown said. The phased-in opening will see all students, except for preschool, begin remote learning on Sept. 14. This remote phase was scheduled to last for two weeks.

After that, Mayo-Brown said schools will enter a phase of reduced days for two weeks. This phase was scheduled to begin on Sept. 28. The reduced days phase will see students return to school for in-person learning for four hours a day.

Schools will enter their planned models for the year on Oct. 13. Phases could still change depending on public health data.

Other safety guidelines are expected to be in effect for all schools. They include:

• Students grades 2-12 and adults must wear masks. Younger children are encouraged but not required. On buses, everyone must wear mask regardless of grade level.
• Provide opportunities for frequent handwashing/sanitizing.
• Implement physical distancing to protect all students
• Maximize cohort grouping to limit the number of students in the building at any given time
• Implement protocols for transitions, meals, cleaning and disinfecting and materials
• Prioritize staying home when sick

The School Committee must finalize its feasibility plan and submit it to the Massachusetts Department of Secondary Education by July 31. Feedback from parents and other members of the school community is encouraged, Mayo-Brown said.

The plans will be finalized at the next School Committee meeting on Aug. 5.

Read more about Massachusetts school reopening guidelines here.