Board of Health Meeting 3/9/21
Dr. Nolin attended this Board of Health meeting to provide updates on Pool testing program and new state mandates about returning to school. Elementary students K-4 will return full time April 5th and Middle School students 5-8 will return full time April 28th. The slides are available here.
Report from Anna Nolin, Superintendent of Schools
Initially was planning to join to provide update on pool testing program
Now here to discuss mandates from DESE and regulatory reach of these changes
Needs advice on areas that are grey and NPS is requesting the BOH’s guidance on
Received updates today from DESE
Natick has been planning for school reopening since the fall
Return to School Update
Chair acknowledged concerns in the community regarding Covid-19.
Initial Thoughts from the Board
Board of Health members and Health Director expressed concern regarding the timing of return to school and change when the school year is almost coming to an end
Dr. Nolin shared that while “the pivot is new, the prep has been ongoing”
Students currently learning Remotely
Students who are in Remote Learning Academy are allowed to remain in RLA. Families will be asked to choose between continuing in RLA or attend full time school
Timelines
Grade K-4 return to live, full time instruction April 5
Grades 5-8 return to live, full time instruction April 28
Grades 9-12 - the plan and timing will be announced at the end of April
Masks
Masks for all students and adults (cloth 2 ply or medical masks)
Teachers travel into classrooms (specialists can utilize carts to free up additional space)
Encouraged to rent spaces to create more room
Dr. Nolin has looked into three different spaces
Some classes at the Middle Schools and High School like choir, band may not be able to run in the school and a plan needs to be figured out
New Seating/Social Distancing Guidelines
Seating will move to 3 ft (seat edge to seat edge)
Students should face the same direction
Students may face each other for short periods of time several times a day
Dr. Nolin asked the BOH if the use of plexi glass allows for table grouping
Dr. Nolin expressed concern about going from 6 feet to 3 feet as there is less “wiggle room” for kids who aren’t staying in their space
The pool testing can help let us know if this is affecting transmission
Research the State used to decide on the decrease to 3 ft is here (letter from MA teachers) and here (British Medical Journal).
Lunch
Schools must plan for 6 ft distance at lunch
Strategies for Natick:
Add additional meal periods
Have half the class eat in classroom, half somewhere else
Outdoor eating areas, including tents
Adults
Continue to hold all meetings virtually
Small number of adults in a room at a time
What happens if Natick chooses not to comply?