A guide for a safe return to Milton Public Schools
Check here for updated news and ongoing resources
8/5/2020: Watch or attend the Milton School Committee Meeting
The link to attend the School Committee meeting on August 5th can be found here and you can watch the meeting on Milton Access TV, Comcast channel 22 or RCN channel 15.
8/5/20: Changes to hybrid models, calendar announced, School Committee vote tonight
The MPS administration has announced changes to the Elementary and Middle School Hybrid model, based on new information from medical professionals. Students would still be divided into two cohorts as before. But because it would be impossible to space students adequately in classrooms during lunch, all students would now be sent home at lunchtime, and would resume live remote learning in the afternoon. The High School hybrid model would be unchanged.
These changes (and all three models) will be presented to the Milton School Committee on Wednesday, August 5th at 7pm. The School Committee will vote to select a plan on Monday, August 10. You can find more details in the Return to School Update in the Superintendent's blog.
The School Committee will also vote tonight on proposed changes to the school calendar. If approved, we anticipate that the first day of school for students will be September 16th and the first day of school for staff will be August 31st. These dates are not final until the School Committee vote.
You can contact School Committee members via email using this list.
The link to attend the School Committee meeting on August 5th can be found here and you can watch the meeting on Milton Access TV, Comcast channel 22 or RCN channel 15.
8/4/20: Student survey results
Nearly 1,500 students across all grade levels responded to our survey in June, writing about their experiences with remote learning in the spring. We broke down their responses by age group and summarized them to highlight key themes around classwork, instruction time, and the kinds of assignments they liked best. School principals and curriculum coordinators are using these responses to help them formulate remote learning plans.
Read more on our Survey Results page, and read a detailed summary of the responses here.
7/27/20: Draft of Initial Return to School Plan released
MPS has released an initial draft of a three-component plan for the fall, subject to review by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the School Committee. It includes:
In addition we invite you to review the list of over 500 questions asked prior to the Q&A at this link and the full list of questions asked during the Q&A here.
The plan was presented to the School Committee on Wednesday, July 29. You can watch the recording here.
The Return to School Task Force held a live Q&A about the plan on Thursday, July 30. You can watch the recording here.
7/24/20: Results of MPS Family Survey
2,360 families responded to the RTS family survey, an 82% response rate, representing every school and grade level, and with demographics that match the Milton Public Schools population. Key takeaways include:
The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has released guidelines for districts to provide safe transportation to and from school. They include:
For more information about Milton's return to school protocols, read our FAQ page, which is updated frequently.
7/21/20 Important Upcoming Return to School Dates
As a Task Force, we are working very hard to ensure that our families and students of color are represented. Thank you to the BIPOC who have already reached out and been welcomed onto our subcommittees and Core Team! We continue to prioritize this as we are committed to making the safest and most equitable recommendations possible on behalf of all students in the Milton Public Schools. If you are interested in joining us in this critical work, particularly if you are a volunteer of color, please reach out to your building principal or directly to Ada Rosmarin and Karen McDavitt, Co-chairs of the Return to School Task Force.
7/17/20: State Releases Protocols for Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios in School Settings
As a supplement to DESE’s Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance, DESE is providing districts and schools with additional information on protocols for responding to specific COVID-19 scenarios this fall, including in school, on the bus, or in community settings. Please note that CDC protocols related to this topic may be released in the coming weeks, and this guidance may be updated accordingly. The full DESE guidelines on protocols can be found here.
7/16/20: Family Q&A Zoom Wrap-up
Thank you to all who attended Thursday's Parent/Guardian Zoom Webinar with MPS administrators and members of the Return to School Task Force.
The Q&A was recorded and can be found here.
7/10/20: State Releases Frequently Asked Questions
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has issued a list of Frequently Asked Questions about planning a safe return to school. You can read the document here or on our Additional Resources page.
Please look out for surveys and "community check-ins" throughout the summer where you can weigh in on issues that range from learning to transportation. You can also contribute your thoughts and comments on this website at any time. And check here frequently for updates and information regarding the safe reopening.
The link to attend the School Committee meeting on August 5th can be found here and you can watch the meeting on Milton Access TV, Comcast channel 22 or RCN channel 15.
8/5/20: Changes to hybrid models, calendar announced, School Committee vote tonight
The MPS administration has announced changes to the Elementary and Middle School Hybrid model, based on new information from medical professionals. Students would still be divided into two cohorts as before. But because it would be impossible to space students adequately in classrooms during lunch, all students would now be sent home at lunchtime, and would resume live remote learning in the afternoon. The High School hybrid model would be unchanged.
These changes (and all three models) will be presented to the Milton School Committee on Wednesday, August 5th at 7pm. The School Committee will vote to select a plan on Monday, August 10. You can find more details in the Return to School Update in the Superintendent's blog.
The School Committee will also vote tonight on proposed changes to the school calendar. If approved, we anticipate that the first day of school for students will be September 16th and the first day of school for staff will be August 31st. These dates are not final until the School Committee vote.
You can contact School Committee members via email using this list.
The link to attend the School Committee meeting on August 5th can be found here and you can watch the meeting on Milton Access TV, Comcast channel 22 or RCN channel 15.
8/4/20: Student survey results
Nearly 1,500 students across all grade levels responded to our survey in June, writing about their experiences with remote learning in the spring. We broke down their responses by age group and summarized them to highlight key themes around classwork, instruction time, and the kinds of assignments they liked best. School principals and curriculum coordinators are using these responses to help them formulate remote learning plans.
Read more on our Survey Results page, and read a detailed summary of the responses here.
7/27/20: Draft of Initial Return to School Plan released
MPS has released an initial draft of a three-component plan for the fall, subject to review by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the School Committee. It includes:
- An in-person option for all schools, with students spaced 3 feet apart, using gyms, cafeterias, and libraries for classroom space. Class sizes would be limited to 18 for elementary schools, 22 for the middle and high school.
- A hybrid option that divides students into two groups and rotates them between in-school and remote learning on separate days, spacing students 6 feet apart when they are in the school building. For the high school, this model would include daily lunch at home and afternoon remote sessions for all students. Siblings would be assigned to the same groups across schools and levels as much as possible. Some special education, ELL, and economically disadvantaged students would attend school every day.
- A fully remote model that follows the same schedule as in-school learning, with attendance taken at classes and live instruction sessions daily.
In addition we invite you to review the list of over 500 questions asked prior to the Q&A at this link and the full list of questions asked during the Q&A here.
The plan was presented to the School Committee on Wednesday, July 29. You can watch the recording here.
The Return to School Task Force held a live Q&A about the plan on Thursday, July 30. You can watch the recording here.
7/24/20: Results of MPS Family Survey
2,360 families responded to the RTS family survey, an 82% response rate, representing every school and grade level, and with demographics that match the Milton Public Schools population. Key takeaways include:
- 60.5% of respondents would prefer a full return to school if all state health, safety, and sanitation guidelines could be met. 29.8% would prefer a hybrid option; 9.7% would prefer full-remote
- If in-person learning resumes in the fall, just over 40% of respondents said their children would be dropped off at school; about 27.5% said they would take the bus; about 24% would walk or bike.
- 8.1% of respondents said their students were "extremely engaged" during remote learning in the spring; 32.5% were "engaged;" 42.2% were "slightly engaged," 17.2% were "not at all" engaged.
Read more results on our new Survey Results page.
The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has released guidelines for districts to provide safe transportation to and from school. They include:
- All students and staff on buses should wear masks at all times, regardless of age.
- Students should be seated no more than one per bench, alternating sides for each row. (Students from the same household may share a bench.)
- Students should be assigned to a single bus and a particular seat.
- Bus windows should be kept open at all times, except when not possible due to extreme weather conditions.
- Districts should modify drop-off and pick-up protocols to comply with physical distancing guidelines.
For more information about Milton's return to school protocols, read our FAQ page, which is updated frequently.
7/21/20 Important Upcoming Return to School Dates
- Monday, July 27: MPS Initial Return to School plans – In-person, Hybrid, Remote – emailed to all MPS families
- Monday-Thursday, July 27-30: Submit your questions about these plans in a link provided on Monday.
- Wednesday, July 29: Presentation of Initial Return to School plans to the School Committee. We will send a link to view the School Committee meeting in the Monday email with MPS Initial RTS Plans. Please watch this meeting to hear a live presentation of the three plans. This meeting will be recorded and available to view later on Milton Access TV.
- July 30: Return to School Q&A 5:45-7pm. Details to join Zoom Webinar or view on another platform will be sent in the Monday email. The Q&A will be a very short presentation of plans followed by the Q&A. If at all possible, we encourage you to read through the plans and/or watch the School Committee presentation on Wednesday night.
- July 31: MPS Initial RTS Plans (In-person, Hybrid, Remote) due to MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
- August 10: MPS detailed plan for the anticipated return to school model due to MA DESE and MPS community.
As a Task Force, we are working very hard to ensure that our families and students of color are represented. Thank you to the BIPOC who have already reached out and been welcomed onto our subcommittees and Core Team! We continue to prioritize this as we are committed to making the safest and most equitable recommendations possible on behalf of all students in the Milton Public Schools. If you are interested in joining us in this critical work, particularly if you are a volunteer of color, please reach out to your building principal or directly to Ada Rosmarin and Karen McDavitt, Co-chairs of the Return to School Task Force.
7/17/20: State Releases Protocols for Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios in School Settings
As a supplement to DESE’s Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance, DESE is providing districts and schools with additional information on protocols for responding to specific COVID-19 scenarios this fall, including in school, on the bus, or in community settings. Please note that CDC protocols related to this topic may be released in the coming weeks, and this guidance may be updated accordingly. The full DESE guidelines on protocols can be found here.
7/16/20: Family Q&A Zoom Wrap-up
Thank you to all who attended Thursday's Parent/Guardian Zoom Webinar with MPS administrators and members of the Return to School Task Force.
The Q&A was recorded and can be found here.
7/10/20: State Releases Frequently Asked Questions
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has issued a list of Frequently Asked Questions about planning a safe return to school. You can read the document here or on our Additional Resources page.
Please look out for surveys and "community check-ins" throughout the summer where you can weigh in on issues that range from learning to transportation. You can also contribute your thoughts and comments on this website at any time. And check here frequently for updates and information regarding the safe reopening.
CONTACT US
The Task Force wants and needs your feedback. Click here or use the "Contact Us" tab to send a question or comment. We’ll do our best to respond in a timely manner.
The Task Force wants and needs your feedback. Click here or use the "Contact Us" tab to send a question or comment. We’ll do our best to respond in a timely manner.
