Belmont Public Schools News

DESE and MIAA Guidance on Modified Sports

Superintendent's Bulletin #8 - DESE and MIAA Guidance on Modified Sports. We received joint sports guidance for the 2020-2021 school year from the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education (DESE), the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). This guidance has identified some sports as safe to play and some sports as “practice only.”

Fall 2020 Return to Learning Plan 2.0

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #8 - Fall 2020 Return to Learning Plan 2.0. In an effort to provide continuous updates we would like to share with you the Fall 2020 Return to Learning Plan 2.0 which includes several updates. The additions to the document include an updated community letter along with the newly voted  2020-2021 School Calendar/Professional Development Days section representing the Department of Elementary and Secondary of Education delayed start for students.

Update on Opening Plans for Special Education Students

As many of you know already, the school district will be taking a phased approach to instruction this Fall.  For many of our special education families, this has prompted a lot of questions about the delivery of IEP supports and services during the various phases.  In an effort to provide some clarification for our families, please find some informational bullet points below.

Vote on Return to Learning Plan

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #7. Vote on Return to Learning Plan. Last night, August 12, the School Committee voted for a phased approach toward reopening our schools with full remote learning beginning Phase 1 when we return to learning in September. We have had tremendous feedback from the community through the survey submitted, numerous emails, and questions presented to the School Administration and the School Committee. The information from the survey is valuable to inform a hybrid model that incorporates families’ schedules of what works best (day/week/split day). Please see the Return to Learning presentation given to the School Committee on August 12.

Fall Re-Opening 2020 Survey Data

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #6 - Fall Re-Opening 2020 Survey Data. Thank you for your participation and feedback during the School Committee meeting last Thursday and for your survey input over the weekend. We would like to share the survey data we collected so you may review in advance of the School Committee meeting tonight at 6:30 pm. 

Fall 2020 Return to Learning Plan 1.0 Document and Presentation to the School Committee

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #5 - Fall 2020 Return to Learning Plan 1.0 Document and Presentation to the School Committee. Thank you for participation in the School Committee meetings this week. Hundreds of you attended both School Committee virtual meetings on August 4 and 6. More than 600 questions were submitted in the Google document in preparation for the community forum on August 6 in addition to many of you asking your questions during the meeting.

2020-21 School Opening Options and Survey and Questions

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #4 - 2020-21 School Opening Options and Survey and Questions. We presented the hybrid and remote learning options for fall 2020 school opening at the August 4 School Committee meeting. You can view the meeting at the Belmont Media Center website if you were unable to attend. The presentation presented at the School Committee meeting can be viewed here.

DESE Remote Learning Guidance for Fall 2020

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #3 - DESE Remote Learning Guidance for Fall 2020. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has released the final Remote Learning Guidance for Fall 2020. We also received Additional Staff Training Days (changes to 180 day requirements) outlining the agreement the Commissioner made with the state teachers’ unions to allow for additional staff training days at the start of the 2020-21 school year. This will be discussed and voted by the School Committee at their meetings next week.

Update on School Opening and School Committee Presentation

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #2 - Update on School Opening and School Committee Presentation. At the School Committee meeting held on July 16, Assistant Superintendent Janice Darias gave a presentation called Update on School Opening 2020-2021. As you know, DESE requested a feasibility study looking at a 3-foot physically distanced full-opening, which is due by July 31. This was originally reported to you in the Superintendent’s Summer Update, sent on July 9. We are also preparing plans for hybrid and remote options, due to DESE by August 10.

DESE Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #1 - DESE Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance. I write to you today with an update on the School Opening for fall 2020. As you may be aware, for the past several months the School Department has been working on options for opening school in September given the evolving  challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This work has included meetings with our educators, Leadership Council, PTO Presidents, Belmont Health Department and other Town Leaders. In addition we have held two School Committee meetings dedicated to this subject.