Dighton-Rehoboth Schools Plan for Mid-September Start

The Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District will resume classes in mid-September, but it has not yet been determined whether there will be in-person instruction or a hybrid model which will include remote learning. A preliminary reopening plan has to be submitted to the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), along with the findings of a feasibility study before July 31. A comprehensive plan is due to DESE on August 10.

Superintendent Anthony Azar told the school committee Tuesday it would be “extremely difficult” to bring back 100 percent of the students for classroom instruction due to guidelines established by the CDC and DESE.

On Monday, Education Commissioner Jeff Riley announced the start of school in Massachusetts will be delayed by 10 days to allow for more educator training. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade will start in the middle of September, and the school year will be reduced to 170 days. Massachusetts Teachers Association President Merrie Najimy explained on the association's website that the delay would "give educators crucially important time to plan."

The Superintendent’s Advisory Committee will be presenting their recommendations on Thursday. The district instituted remote learning last March after the outbreak of coronavirus throughout the state. “We have to shore up our remote learning program,” Azar added.