Braintree Approves Hybrid School Reopening Plan For All Schools

BRAINTREE, MA — A divided school committee voted 4-3 on a hybrid school reopening plan where all students will return to their own schools on Sept. 16.

The vote means students will attend in-person classes two half-days per week and receive remote instruction the other three days, though this may change. Students that are part of special education plans will be allowed additional in-person class time.

Parents also have the option to enroll their children in a remote-only education program.

Three committee members favored a phased-in hybrid plan, where just students in prekindergarten through grade 3 would attend in-person classes on Sept. 16. Other grades would resume in phases beginning in October and November.

School committee Chair Tom Devin said no plan will satisfy everyone, and the plan is still likely to change before the start of school depending on state health guidelines.

"We've been given a mission that's impossible," Devin said.

Superintendent Frank Hackett added that any decision to extend to full school days would be based on health metrics.

Under the approved plan, masks will be required at all times with the potential exception of during designated movement breaks. Students must also be at least 6 feet apart. Extensive cleaning protocols were also put in place at all school buildings.

Since the in-person days are half-days, Hackett said students will be served "grab and go" lunches as they leave school.

School Superintendent Frank Hackett said any decision to extend the school day would be based on health metrics.

And with social distancing, bus capacities will be limited to just elementary school students that live more than 2 miles from their school. Hackett said buses normally have a 77-person capacity, but school officials have dropped that to 25.

Disagreements with the School Committee

Marybeth McGrath, the town's health director, told the committee schools can reopen safely under any of the three proposed hybrid plans. But not all school committee members were in agreement on which approach was best.

Mayor Charles Kokoros voted in favor of the winning hybrid plan and said his priority is student safety. He also acknowledged plans could change if needed.

"If things change, we will adapt to those changes," Kokoros said.

Committee member Cyril Chafe also voted in favor of the plan. He argued students need to get back into school so teachers can evaluate how much they fell behind the pandemic halted in-person learning in March.

School committee member Kelly Cobb-Lemire voted against the approved plan. She argued the plan wasn't well-thought-out and doesn't move cautiously enough.

"Plans B1 and B2 were put together quickly based on Gov. [Charlie] Baker's expectations," Cobb-Lemire said. " Plan B is not well-thought-out or at least bit feasible. Bringing too many students, teachers and staff to in-person learning too quickly will have dire effects on our students, teachers and community."

Committee member Karla Psaros also voted against the plan. She said she had coronavirus in April, and results can sometimes take up to a week to come in.

"Rushing into opening 10 schools does not take the Steering Committee's consideration into their work to mitigate the spread of this virus."

This committee made up 60 members across the school community and drafted the original plan for a phased-in hybrid approach.

Those voting for the plan included Kokoros, Devin, Chafe and George Kokoros. Committee member Jennifer Dolan voted against the plan with Psaros and Cobb-Lemire.