As local and state officials lay the groundwork for reopening school buildings in the fall, some are raising concerns over the potential risks and costs of bringing students back into classrooms.
As districts have pivoted to remote learning, many are struggling with issues including families that lack connections to the internet or even a quiet place for children to participate in online instruction, the difficulty in providing instruction to disabled children who might normally require one-on-one assistance, and the education of kindergarten through third-grade students who often have difficulty sitting still without an adult in the room.
School officials have indicated they are looking at the challenges of how social distancing could take place during student transportation, classes and meals at schools.
During an April 14 meeting, Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius told city councilors she did not think the city could safely reopen schools during the fall.
Last week, however, Cassellius told councilors she’s moving ahead with a planning process to reopen schools in the fall if key public health conditions are met, including declines in the number of COVID cases and deaths and increased capacity to test for the virus.
