Health

With 5 weeks before school starts, BPS is gearing up for a very different fall semester

BOSTON — City and school officials in Boston are still working to flush out details for the 2020-2021 school year.

“Do we have an option for in-person learning, and that’s something that the Superintendent and myself have spent a lot of hours together talking about,” said Mayor Marty Walsh on Tuesday.

School officials introduced three different models of learning but getting kids the best education with face to face learning is still up in the air.

“We need to find new ways forward so we can have a more equitable education for our children and get them what they need so when they get that diploma, they are ready for the next step they want to take,” said Brenda Cassellius, Boston Public Schools Superintendent.

Students and their families picked up backpacks filled with school supplies and hygiene items at the Salvation Army in Dorchester during a yearly tradition that is looking a little different this year.

With just five weeks until the start of school in the city, older buildings have been undergoing upgrades, preparing for whenever that day is.

“We’re working to make sure that our school buildings are ready on September 10th, whether or not we have kids in them. We still have to make sure the schools are ready. At some point in the upcoming year we have to bring kids back to school,” said Mayor Walsh.

Parents can choose to not put their kids back in classroom learning but that does raise concerns over childcare options in the city for working parents.

That is among one of the challenges school officials must work through as they continue to make difficult decisions in the interest of safety between teachers, staff and kids.


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