Superintendent's Community Update
September 18, 2020
The 2020-21 School Year is Officially Launched
PreK is back for in-person learning
We've Got This! Social Distancing and Mask Wearing
Kindergarten Screening is Underway
COVID Metrics Updated
I wanted to take this opportunity to provide an update on a change in local COVID metrics that will have an impact on our ability to welcome students back to our school buildings under a hybrid model of teaching and learning.
Our opening in a full-remote model was necessitated by the district entering the “red” category, using metrics established by the two boards of health that were more stringent than the ones employed by the state. We agreed that we would need to see three consecutive weeks of a positive trend in the COVID incidence rate in order to go hybrid.
As you will see in the HWRSD Metrics Dashboard found below, the numbers the last two weeks are the best since late July. We are cautiously optimistic that we will see similar numbers next week; a move to hybrid learning on Oct. 1 appears to be on-track.
The Boards of Health met earlier this week and chose to use the same metrics as the state, i.e. “red” indicates a 7-day aggregate daily incidence rate of >8 per 100,000 people, as opposed to >6. The BOH also maintained that other considerations, such as incidence rates in surrounding communities and compliance with mitigation efforts (mask wearing, 6 ft social distancing) should also be factored into the COVID Response Team’s decision making. Moving forward, we will be using the updated guidance.
The COVID Response Team will meet again on Sept. 24 to review the updated data that the state releases on Sept. 23. At this meeting we will make a final decision on whether we will pivot to the hybrid model Oct. 1.
As we continue to navigate the myriad of challenges presented by COVID, I appreciate your patience and understanding. We will get there.
For Your Planning - Anticipated Change in October In-Service Date
Surveys for Early Feedback
Hamilton Wenham Regional School District
Email: j.carleo@hwschools.net
Website: https://www.hwschools.net/
Location: 5 School Street, Wenham, MA
Phone: 978-626-0821