Boston teachers, parents voice strong opposition to hybrid learning model

BOSTON — Boston public school officials are considering a hybrid model this fall which could mean some schools alternating between in-person and remote learning.

Boston’s School Committee tried to sort through questions and concerns during a virtual meeting on Wednesday night.

Of the 96 people who signed up for public comment, the overwhelmingly majority voiced strong opposition to any type of in-person learning model.

“It’s not safe,” said one educator from the Holmes Innovation School. “What is being asked of teachers is unfair.”

For now, Boston School officials have decided against a one-size-fits-all for the district’s 125 schools.

Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said a part-time return for some schools would require families to complete home health screens.

Boston teachers, parents voice strong opposition to hybrid learning model Boston public school officials are considering a hybrid model this fall which could mean some schools alternating between in-person and remote learning.

“Parents will go through the checklist. They’ll take the temperature of children, send them out with clean hands, wash their hands before they go and send them out with their mask,” said Cassellius.

School officials said a return to in person classes would likely happen in waves, starting with grades 1 through 8.

The district presented several drafts of a hybrid model to explain how students would rotate between in person and at-home learning.

“We understand some of our students, our learners may need more than two days of in person learning. We are open to figuring out how to make that happen,” said Senior Advisor Tammy Pust.

School officials will continue to solicit public input over the next few weeks. Individuals schools will submit plans to the school system on the hybrid and remote learning plans by Aug. 21.

Many parents are concerned about both the safety of their children and childcare. Cassellius says BPS plans to lean on its community after school learning partners to help working parents balancing whatever the new normal is this fall.

“It’s going to take all of us to keep our children and the community safe,” Cassellius said.

One thing for certain is BPS students will not be returning to the classroom full-time this fall, which means parents need a childcare plan.

“I’m a working mother,” said Ashley Pemberton, a mother of two. “I need to be able to plan accordingly if I’m going to remote learn with my children.”

Cassellius says she understands the stress parents are under and, no matter what model BPS decides on, there will be additional support.

“We are going to be working with our Boston after school and Beyond partners. We worked with them this summer. It’s over a hundred partners that come together throughout the school year. We’ll also be working with our faith based leaders hopefully,” Cassellius said.

Under the hybrid learning plan, students will spend two days a week learning in the classroom and three days a week learning from home. On Wednesdays school buildings will be closed for cleaning.

Whether Boston decides to go completely remote or follow a hybrid model in the age of social distancing, students will be learning through devices both in the classroom and at home.

Cassellius said under the hybrid learning plan there will be about 10 to 15 students in a classroom.

“They’ll be socially distanced, they’ll have their mask on, there will be hand washing that will be done as they’re in the classroom with the teacher,” the superintendent said.

There will also be about 10-15 students connected to the classroom at home through a Zoom meeting. The teacher will then guide the students both in the classroom and at home through lesson plans and prompt them to complete learning exercises through the devices given to them.

“You will be learning through your device. So you will be talking to your peers through your device. You will be working, because you’re still 6 feet apart, you will be working with your teacher through your device. And everybody at the same time will be learning. We will use technology and tools and also old traditional tools of arts and science projects,” Cassellius said.

But Pemberton, who has two children with asthma in elementary school, says she needs more clarity.

“Are they keeping up if these children are sick? If they’re a-symptomatic? If they’re not symptomatic… we’ve seen so many unsure cases that it’s too scary,” Pemberton said.

Cassellius says they are training faculty and staff on how to detect coronavirus symptoms but are relying on parents to stop the spread at home.

“Parents will go through the checklist. They’ll take the temperature of their children, wash their hands before they go, send them out with their mask,” Cassellius said.

BPS plans to survey parents on what they prefer to do this fall and will then decide which back to school model to go with. As of now the first day of school is set for Sept. 10.

Download the free Boston 25 News app for up-to-the-minute push alerts

>> Complete local and national coronavirus coverage here

RESOURCES:

- Massachusetts Coronavirus Information

- Boston Coronavirus Information

- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Watch Boston 25 NOW

- Download our free apps for your phone and smart TV