Canton Parents Group Pushes For Hybrid Learning Model

CANTON, MA — The battle between those wanting a hybrid learning model for a return to Canton Public Schools next month, and those pushing for a fully remote model to start the year, has gone online with more than 1,000 signing a petition as of Monday afternoon to push the Canton School Committee back toward the model that includes some in-classroom learning.

"The Canton community must demand a hybrid option to start the school year," the Canton Community for CPS Hybrid Start to School said in a statement promoting the petition. "While we share concerns for safety and effective teaching approaches, we strongly believe this can be achieved through a hybrid back to school model."

The parents group cites state data that indicated the town meets the data requirement for some in-classroom learning and a parents' survey from this summer that showed 82 percent of parents preferred some level of in-person learning, compared to 18 percent that did not.

Under state guidelines, parents have the choice to keep their students in a fully remote model if they do not feel comfortable sending them to school at this time.

The Canton School Committee approved a hybrid learning model last month, but the group said it has since told parents to "prepare for a remote start," which the parents group said was in response to the teachers' union advocating a fully remote start.

"Neighboring communities are starting hybrid," the parents group said. "The unions in these communities negotiated terms that would provide a safe in-person environment and did not stonewall the school committee and administration. These communities offered staff alternatives for those who did not feel 'safe' with in-person learning."

The petition can be found here.