The January 22 message from Superintendent of Schools Philip Conrad includes an appreciation for Bedford Embraces Diversity’s MLK Day breakfast; notice of the schools’ FY22 budget hearing on Feb. 2; an update on flu shots and DESE guidance, a link to the Town’s Covid dashboard; and other information.
Monday, January 18, 2021
Thank you to the Bedford Embraces Diversity group for hosting their annual MLK Day Breakfast. Bedford Embraces Diversity was formed in 2014 in response to local incidents of antisemitism. The grass-roots group’s belief is that inclusion and acceptance should be extended to all residents, regardless of race, religion, disability, lifestyle, gender orientation, military, or cultural status. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day event is the cornerstone of the group’s calendar. Thank you to all who participated in the effort to demonstrate a town-wide commitment to the ideals that guided Dr. King’s life.
Public Hearing on the FY22 Budget on Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Reminder to all Bedford Public School families that the School Committee will host a Public Hearing on the FY22 Budget on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, during the regularly scheduled School Committee meeting time. The meeting will be held via Zoom. To review the budget proposal please visit the The FY22 page on our website.
Flu Shot Update
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is removing the requirement for flu vaccination for attendance in childcare/preschool, primary, secondary and postsecondary education. Preliminary data show that this has been a mild flu season to date, presumably as people have received their seasonal flu vaccine and have been adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing due to COVID-19. Given the intensive Commonwealth-wide efforts regarding COVID-19 vaccination, DPH wants to alleviate the burden to obtain flu vaccination and focus on continuing our COVID -19 vaccination efforts. DPH continues to strongly recommend that everyone age six months and older receive their seasonal flu vaccine each year.
DESE Updates
Last Friday we received word that DPH and DESE were offering school districts in Massachusetts an opportunity to become involved in voluntary pool testing for a six-week period for no cost. The first step in this process is for us to express an interest in participating in the program, which we have done. We will have more information available soon. In the meantime, if you’d like to read about the program please go to the DESE COVID-19 Website and review the 1/11/2021 6:25 pm announcement or see the announcement by Governor Baker and Commission Riley at MA Pool Testing Initiative for Schools or you can go to the DESE Pool Testing Website
Community COVID-19 Dashboard
The Bedford Board of Health Bedford COVID-19 Dashboard contains data related to case counts, active/recovered cases, case demographics, and school case data. The majority of the data on the Dashboard will be updated Monday through Friday, with some data tables and charts updated on a weekly basis. We invite you to view the new dashboard here: www.bedfordma.gov/covid-stats
Teaching Assistants, Educational Assistants, and Building Substitutes Needed
If you would be interested in joining the Bedford Public Schools as a teaching assistant, an educational assistant, or a building-based substitute please check out our openings on our website at BPS HR Website, and thank you!
Technology
If you have questions about this or any other technology issue or concerns please contact [email protected]
As always, thank you for your patience, your participation, and your continued commitment to our schools.
Wishing you continued health.
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