Brockton parents: Communication key in remote reopening

BROCKTON, Mass. — Brockton is the Commonwealth’s fourth-largest school district with a higher risk of COVID-19, according to a new state map, so the district voted to start the year with remote learning on September 16.

The decision affects 16,000 students and their families.

Jael Wells’ father William said the spring semester, was an adjustment for the 7th-grader and her parents, but they managed.

“We were able to get her on task and get a set schedule for us so she was able to do all of her work,” said William Wells.

“We were able to get her on task and get a set schedule for us, so she was able to do all of her work.”
Parent of a #Brockton student on remote learning last spring. The district voted to go remote for fall, earlier this wk w/ #COVID19 cases on the rise. Our story at 4 @boston25 pic.twitter.com/9oby0sDGzC
— Evan White (@EvanWhiteIII) August 14, 2020

Wells and his wife, Alicia are strict with their children and feel that eased the transition to remote for spring and will do the same for the fall.

“Our kids know how we are they know what we expect,” Wells said.

Brockton was one of the state’s original hotspots for COVID-19, and cases are again on the rise.

“There’s a spike,” said Mayor Robert Sullivan, who is also chairman of the School Committee.

The positivity rate was 4.81% as of August 12, while the average across Massachusetts is just 1.5%, according to state data.

“I hope teachers and the staff are well prepared to communicate with the children daily on a continual basis.” Said a parent of a #Brockton charter school student going into 9th grader at a school that is fully remote for fall. Our story at 5 @boston25 pic.twitter.com/Jl8RsPq3wx
— Evan White (@EvanWhiteIII) August 14, 2020

It was an appearance on the state’s new COVID-19 color-coded map, highlighting communities with higher risk that fueled the change in Brockton’s original plan from hybrid to remote, the mayor said.

“We’ve never been a one-to-one school district to give laptops and (Chromebooks) But we’re doing that now and investing a lot of money,” Sullivan said.

Wells said the idea of remote learning is something his family supports, but also feels communication will be just as important as connectivity.

“Not only between the parents and the child but the parents, child, and the teacher,” Wells said.

Sullivan said the remote learning plan is for term number one, if health metrics improve in the weeks ahead, he is hopeful the following term can be done, at least partially, at school buildings.