Seekonk Schools Will Reopen With New Guidelines

On Thursday, Governor Charlie Baker’s office and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released their initial guidance about reopening schools this fall.

“Our goal is for a safe return of as many students as possible to in-person school settings in order to best meet students’ academic, social, and emotional needs,” said Seekonk School Superintendent Rich Drolet in a letter to parents and students. “We are now reviewing the guidance to begin to understand how it impacts what we can and will do in Seekonk. These initial guidelines do not address every topic and there will be additional guidance coming throughout the summer.”

These are some key components of the state’s recommendations:

• Current medical research supports a safe in-person return to school - with preventive measures in place - as infection and transmission rates are lower for children than adults
• Preventive measures include masks/face coverings, physical distancing, hand-washing, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces
• Masks/face coverings will be required for all students in Grade 2 and above and for all adults; they are recommended for students in Grade 1 and below
• Based upon current medical research, and in conjunction with other preventive measures, a minimum physical distance of three feet has been established.

School districts will also need to develop three separate plans - one for return to full in-person instruction with safety requirements, one for full remote learning, and one for hybrid learning that combines in-person and remote learning.