Braintree Schools Subtract 4 Days By Canceling April Vacation

BRAINTREE, MA — The School Committee has canceled April Vacation and will subtract four days from the end of the school year.

If in-person classes resume following the new coronavirus crisis, the school year will end on June 19 rather than June 25, according to the Patriot Ledger, which first reported this story. With this decision, social distance learning will continue over the break originally scheduled for April 21 to 24. As it stands, schools in Massachusetts are scheduled to re-open May 4.

Prior to Tuesday's meeting, School Committee Chair Tom Devin told Patch additional days in April Vacation would give students an opportunity to make up some of the learning that was lost. He also said the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the district to make the best decisions they can while in unchartered territory.

"There is no road map to do this," Devin said. "We're making decisions hour-by-hour and day-by-day. Considering there's no road map, I think we're doing as well as we can ...We're trying to go forward and educate these kids the best we can."

Students have continued their school work through distance learning with classes taking up 30 to 45 minutes per day for each class. Devin applauded the teachers for making themselves available by email during this tough time.