Health

K-8 Boston students returning to full-time in person learning Monday

BOSTON — This is a day students and their families have waited anxiously. After months of negotiations with the teachers union and the state’s vaccine rollout reaching the general public, the wait ended. K-8 Boston Public School students will be returning to full-time in-person learning on Monday.

The district estimates that more than 10,000 students will be transitioning to the classroom five days a week for the remainder of the school year.

Boston is among nearly 70 districts in the Commonwealth that received waivers from the state to delay the return to full-time in-person learning by three weeks.

Boston’s Superintendent Brenda Cassellius told Boston 25 News that furniture had to be moved out of some schools to make room for social distancing protocols.

She said every precaution is being taken to keep students safe.

“I think everyone will feel a sense of relief to have a new normal, to be back with their friends, to begin to build community and reconnect,” said Cassellius. “We’re encouraging our families to consent to our weekly pool testing for students.”

At the Beethoven-Ohrenberger K-8 school, students were greeted by staff cheering outside of the front doors.

“It’s a big day. He’s about to be six next week, so I hope he has a good day at school, and I hope everybody is going to be safe,” said Delores Ortiz, mother of Moses Martinez, a kindergartener. “He can’t wait to go to school. He’s sick of being at home.”

Students will be required to wear masks throughout the day, and desks will be spaced three feet apart.

Families who are not comfortable sending students back to school still have the option of remote learning.

The district is awaiting guidance from the state to determine how high school students can safely return to schools.

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

>> Complete Covid-19 vaccine coverage

RESOURCES:

- Complete local and national coronavirus coverage here

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

- Download our free apps for your phone and smart TV