Back-To-School Plans Take Shape In Massachusetts

MASSACHUSETTS — Students and teachers would have to wear masks and stay 6 feet apart from one another if Massachusetts schools are able to resume in-person classes in September, according to a memo sent to superintendents Friday.

The memo from Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley is the most comprehensive preview to date of what school will look like after the coronavirus crisis. The memo outlines policies, as well as items school districts will be required to purchase.

"We are operating with the best information we have as of early June about how to maintain the health and safety of our students and staff in any in-person school programs and limit the risk of COVID-19 transmission," Riley wrote.

The biggest challenge for schools could be a cap of 10 students and two staff members in each class. "Successfully implementing 6 feet of social distancing will require significantly smaller class sizes and reduced staff-to-student ratios," Riley said. "Where feasible, programs should isolate individual groups of students with one consistently assigned teacher, and groups should not mix with other students or staff."

That policy is already in place for summer programs. Riley’s office is expected to issue guidance on class size for the fall by June 15.

Schools would not be expected to check students' temperature when they arrive each day because of the high number in false positives and false negatives when relying on body temperature to screen for the coronavirus. Schools would, however, have to develop protocols for isolating and discharging students who become sick during the school day.

While students would be expected to bring their own face coverings to school, school systems would be required to purchase one mask per student per week as a backup. To avoid supply chain backups, schools are expected to have a 12-week supply of disposable masks on hand when schools reopen.

They also need 10 gowns, 10 pairs of gloves, two sets of eye protection, two face shields and 10 N-95 ventilating masks per staff member per week. A school would need a gallon of hand sanitizer each week for every classroom

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is releasing federal money to school districts to purchase the safety equipment.

"We are issuing this guidance on key safety supplies now so that districts can begin the ordering process for critical items that may be harder to procure," Riley said.

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