Return to School Update
February 5, 2021
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PHASE III & IV STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL BUILDINGS: FEBRUARY - DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED
We are pleased to report that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has approved Framingham’s pooled testing application. We are currently working with our DESE assigned vendor on testing logistics and consent paperwork which we will be aligning with our scheduled return of students. We anticipate the start of Phases III & IV shortly after February School Vacation Week.
Students in Phase III (Cohort "S") and Phase IV (Cohorts "A" or "B") will receive their assignments next week. As a reminder:
- Students in Cohort S will attend school every day each week;
- Students in the A cohort will attend in person on “A-Week” and learn remotely during “B-Week.”
- Students in Cohort B will attend in-person on “B-Week” and learn remotely during “A-Week.”
CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH CONDITIONS
Below are important informational links that highlight the current COVID-related public health conditions in Framingham:
Click to see the FPS COVID Dashboard
Click to review the City of Framingham Weekly Data Analysis (PDF)
Click to access the City of Framingham COVID Resource Page
RETURN-TO-SCHOOL DASHBOARD
The District will continue to work closely with the Framingham Department of Public Health to constantly assess both the risk (e.g., in-school transmission and upward data trends) and risk mitigation efforts (e.g., weekly testing, vaccinations, and downward data trends) which may also impact the target return dates for Phase III & IV.
(Text from the table above)
Return-to-School Target
City Positivity: 4% (or less)
New Cases (Daily): 10 (or less)
Current Status (Latest Report)
February 1, 2021
City Positivity: 5.25%
New Cases (Daily): 38.29
↘︎ Lower than last week
Current Trend
↘︎ Lower than last week
Historical Trends
January 29, 2021
City Positivity: 6.33%
New Cases (Daily): 46.89
↘︎ Lower than the previous week
January 22, 2021
City Positivity: 7.51%
New Cases (Daily): 53.53
↘︎ Lower than the previous week
January 11, 2021
City Positivity: 7.61%
New Cases (Daily): 62.32
↘︎ Lower than the previous week
COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM MODEL
Once we begin our long-anticipated hybrid educational model, families who wish to shift from hybrid learning to remote only may request to do so at any time. Requests should be directed to the building principal so that proper notice may be given to the teacher(s), transportation office, etc. Requests to shift from remote to hybrid learning will be considered on March 19, 2021 for an April 5, 2021 return provided that space is available given the need to maintain 6-foot physical distancing. Another Family Decision Checkpoint will be offered on May 10, 2021.
RISK MITIGATION EFFORTS
We believe that a combination of facility safety upgrades, personal protective equipment (PPE), physical/social distancing, regular (weekly) COVID testing, and the introduction of a vaccine will be exactly what it is needed to confidently return to school.
Masks/Face Coverings
Masks/Face Coverings are among the most important single measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. Masks must cover both the nose and mouth. Masks must be worn by everyone at all times with rare exceptions. Families must ensure their child arrives at school wearing a face covering and ideally has an extra on hand. Time will be built throughout the day for mask breaks where students and staff don’t have to wear masks.
COVID-19 Pooled Testing for Students
We are pleased to report that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has approved Framingham’s pooled testing application. We are currently working with our DESE assigned vendor on testing logistics and consent paperwork which we will be aligning with our scheduled return of students. Pooled tests combine respiratory samples from several students and then conduct one laboratory test on the combined pool of samples to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. If a pooled test result is negative, then all individuals within that pool are presumed negative and may remain in school. If a pooled test result is positive, then all individuals in the pool must be retested individually.
COVID-19 PCR Testing for ALL FPS Staff
Testing has proven to be a key factor to getting students back to school in communities where percentages of positivity and daily new COVID cases are higher than recommended community targets. ALL FPS staff are encouraged to participate in weekly COVID-19 PCR testing that is provided at each of our schools.
COVID-19 PCR Testing for Phase I and Phase II Returning Students
We have extended COVID-19 PCR testing to all students who returned in Phases I and II. PCR testing for students will shift to pooled testing once that is rolled out with the return of students in Phases III & IV. Testing of students in school will prove to be a much more reliable indicator than relying solely upon community health metrics.
Attestation App
The Framingham Public Schools have adopted MyMedBot App in order to allow all staff and families the ability to engage in a daily attestation of health with regard to COVID symptoms. Students, families and staff will answer a series of COVID-19 related questions each school day via the mobile app (accessible on both mobile phones and computers). While staff are already actively engaging in this attestation, families will soon be provided with instructions.
Vaccination
As a school district, we do not control vaccines or their distribution in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The FPS COVID Team has been working with the City’s Department of Public Health and neighboring school communities to offer a regional clinic for educators as soon as the vaccine becomes available. We support and encourage the Commonwealth to prioritize staff, including bus drivers, and we strongly encourage all staff to receive the vaccine.
GRATITUDE
Special thanks and appreciation to our custodial staff and food service workers. Our custodial staff have been working tirelessly, without a break, since June to keep our schools and facilities clean and up to code. Without their vigilant cleaning, prompt and timely attendance to duties, and consistent “can-do” attitude, we would not have been able to keep our buildings open. An equally humble and passionate thanks to our amazing food service workers for feeding our students and their families during the pandemic months. Thank you for your dedication to FPS!
KEY TERMS
Phase I: Students and staff who attended school, in-person, starting in October.
Phase II: Students and staff who attended school, in-person, starting in November.
Phase III: Students and staff who were scheduled to return to school in December, but who did not return due to the shift to remote in consideration of the community public health conditions.
Phase IV: All remaining FPS students and staff not included in Phases I, II, and III.
In Person (Schedule): A schedule where students are receiving instruction in person in a classroom setting from the school.
Remote (Schedule): A schedule where students are receiving instruction from a location outside the school setting via the computer (virtually).
Hybrid (Schedule): A schedule where students are receiving instruction on a rotating schedule that includes both in person and remote experiences.
Concurrent Classroom Model: A model in which students attend class in person and others attend virtually. The teacher in a concurrent classroom attempts to meet the needs of the students in class and online simultaneously.
Synchronous Instruction (live):
Synchronous Instruction
Occurs in real-time, with participants doing something together or “in sync” with others;
May include Zoom/Google Meets meetings or be streamed; live video is not required for synchronous learning;
May include scheduled learning experiences, assessments, or collaboration to be completed at the same time as others; and/or
May provide additional structure, accountability, and opportunities to engage with others in the learning community.
Asynchronous Instruction (not live):
Asynchronous Instruction
Occurs on one’s own time or pace, with no requirements to be in lock-step with others;
Allows students to work independently, or potentially with others, at a flexible pace that meets their individual needs;
May include experiences, assessments, or collaboration to be completed within a window of time, but not necessarily in real-time with others; and/or
Allows teachers to work synchronously with one or more students while others are engaged in asynchronous learning tasks.
Asynchronous instruction does NOT mean that a student is “offline”, as in not engaging virtually with content.
PREVIOUS / RECENT UPDATES
- For Updates on Athletics, Fine and Performing Arts, and Extracurricular Activities, please look at the Return to School Smore from January 29th.
- Until the MyMedBot Application is launched for Phase I and II students, we're asking that all families complete their own ‘attestation’ at home each morning before children attend school in-person. Please review the Wellness and Symptom Checklist.
- This is a reminder that, in most instances, travel outside of Massachusetts will require COVID PCR testing and quarantine until a negative PCR test is received. Read the communication from today (Friday, February 5th) for answers to some common questions on this topic: Travel Advisory Reminder and Questions
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Framingham Public Schools
Website: www.framingham.k12.ma.us
Location: 31 Flagg Drive, Framingham, MA 01702, USA
Phone: 508-626-9117
Facebook: facebook.com/framinghamps
Twitter: @framinghamps