Braintree Schools Could Expand In-Person Learning

BRAINTREE, MA — Elementary and middle school students in Braintree may see their time in the classroom expand by the end of the month.

At the school committee meeting on Monday, Superintendent Frank Hackett said students in grades 1-8 could see their half-days of in-person classes become full days. Hackett said this could happen as soon as Oct. 26.

The high school, which has been fully remote since the start of the school year, is also slated for the return of in-person classes this month. Braintree High School's hybrid model is scheduled to begin Oct. 13.

"We're trying to do this the right way," Hackett said. "It's not a hard date, and things can happen."

The future reopening decisions will likely depend on the status of the coronavirus pandemic in Braintree. Braintree has seen 75 new cases in a little less than three weeks. Most of those were from people in their 20s, Mayor Charles Kokoros announced last week.

Braintree also remains a "yellow" community, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The designation is given to cities and towns that average four to eight cases per 100,000 people daily.

The highest state designation is "red," reserved for communities with eight or more cases per 100,000 daily over a two-week span. According to Wednesday's state data, Braintree was averaging 6.9 new cases daily per 100,000 residents.

School committee members and residents expressed excitement over the possibility of expanding in-person learning.

"It's good trying to expand things where we can," committee member Kelly Cobb-Lemire said.

"Our children need to get back into school not only for academic purposes but for social and emotional reasons," resident Tina Gilman added.