Schools to Survey Families Regarding Full, In-Person Classes for the Current Academic Year

January 22, 2021

Bedford school principals soon will survey families to determine how many would send their children back to full in-person classes this academic year if there was that opportunity.

Superintendent of Schools Philip Conrad told the School Committee on Jan. 12 that the results will help determine if “we can fill the capacity we have.” He emphasized that safety will not be compromised, and “we really want to partner with the parents and the teachers.”

He said he would provide more details on the process and the possibilities at next week’s committee meeting.

It’s not just about going back to the classroom – there are also issues of which classroom, as some reconfiguration would be possible.

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“The first- and second-grade parents will be receiving surveys soon about their interest in coming back four days a week and what that would mean for them as we talk about changing teachers and classrooms if that’s necessary,” Conrad said. At the Lane School, he acknowledged, there may be a need to add staff if there is sufficient interest for returning., he continued.

The process is simplified at John Glenn Middle School by the team structure, Conrad pointed out. Additional students “would fill classrooms safely by team,” where there is some additional capacity. At Bedford High School it will be more challenging because “it becomes individual student schedules that determine if students come back because so there are many moving parts.”

Meanwhile, Conrad noted, all kindergarteners are scheduled to return to Davis School on Feb. 1 for four days a week.

School Committee member Ann Guay cautioned about surveys as a self-fulfilling prophecy. “I don’t want to set the expectation for parents that they get to vote on everything,” she commented.
Her colleague Sarah Scoville added that it must be emphasized that the surveys are meant to collect information that can be used for decision-making.

“You are going to find people who are not committed to sending their kids back to school,” predicted School Committee Chair Dan Brosgol. “It feels a little bit dissonant to be talking about this when there has never been so much Covid in our schools.” But the situation may be more comfortable for re-entry when plans are realized, he said.

Ryan Doucette, the BHS senior who serves as the student representative to the School Committee, said surveyors at the high school should make an extra effort to reach families who are part of the Metco program or who reside on Hanscom Air Force Base. “Sometimes those voices get omitted,” he said.

Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
Click this link to learn more about The Bedford Citizen’s first community reporter.

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