Natick Delays Vote On Back-To-School Plan

NATICK, MA — The Natick School Committee has delayed a planned vote on a fall back-to-school plan pending new guidance from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

The vote on a plan was supposed to happen Wednesday, but will likely happen on Monday. The School Committee is deciding between a hybrid learning model and an all-remote model as students prepare to return to class amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this summer, DESE asked every school district in the state to submit three plans for the 2020-21 school year, including an all-remote plan, a hybrid plan, and a full return to in-class instruction.

In recent weeks, other local school committees have been voting on back-to-school plans.

Framingham has decided to go all-remote until at least late October. If coronavirus trends are in the right spot, the district could begin a hybrid model in November. The Wayland School Committee made a similar decision on Monday to begin school all-remote.

In a social media post Wednesday, Natick School Committee Chair Julie McDonough said that new guidance from DESE might come Thursday. Patch has reached out to DESE for comment about what that might mean, and we will update this story as soon as we hear back.