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MARCH 25, 2021 CITY ALERT: WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 13 A message from School Superintendent Josh Vadala PEABODY — School Superintendent Dr. Josh Vadala wishes to provide the community with an update regarding the district’s timeline for the transition back to fully inperson learning. The School Committee voted at its meeting last week to transition the district’s elementary schools back to fully in-person learning on Monday, March 29 and its middle and high schools back to fully in-person learning on Wednesday, April 7. Students and the families who wish to continue to pursue fully remote learning will have the option to do so. The district collaborated with the Peabody Federation of Teachers to identify the above dates, and continues to work closely with the organization on details for a safe, phased return to fully in-person learning. This timeline is two weeks later than the district’s initial goal for the return to fully inperson learning. However, following discussions with the community, it has been determined that a slightly later return will be beneficial as teachers make their vaccination appointments, the district continues to finalize its facility preparations and for families as they plan their schedules and childcare needs. The transition is still a week ahead of the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s required timeline for the return to in-person instruction, through which elementary school students must return by April 5. Educators became eligible on March 11 for the COVID-19 vaccine. The district remains committed to helping teachers access the vaccine in the most seamless way possible, and will continue to share any and all information available about the sites and resources available publically to seek out an appointment once they become eligible. “It’s not lost on us how significantly these transitions and timelines impact our staff, students and families, and we’re deeply thankful for the continued patience and understanding of everyone in our district as we work toward the goal of reopening school buildings,” Vadala said. “Our teachers have worked tremendously hard this year and we are fortunate to have such dedicated staff, who care very much about the academic growth and social emotional well-being of their students. It has long been a priority for our district to help our teachers access the vaccine once eligible and part of that commitment means pushing back this timeline slightly.” More information on the return to fully in-person learning will be shared with all stakeholders as soon as it becomes available. Vadala reports that the Peabody Public Schools are pursuing plans for a fully remote, personalized virtual learning experience for students who wish to continue learning remotely next school year and beyond. While the district has determined it will be returning to fully in-person learning through a phased transition this spring, district leadership has also identified a strong desire and need among some students and families for a continued remote learning option. Virtual, informational community forums were held on Tuesday, March 16; Wednesday, March 17; and Thursday, March 18 with links for participation that will be shared with students and families next week, and members of the district community will be able to ask questions at the meeting as well. Families will also be invited to participate in a survey following the sessions. Students and families have the option to continue remote learning through the end of this school year as well, and of the district’s 487 fully remote elementary schools students, for example, approximately 320 students in pre-kindergarten through grade five have opted to continue learning fully remotely this school year. The district has also seen students thrive in its remote learning program this year. Through district analysis of student performance from the start of the school year until January 2021 students district-wide demonstrated 60 percent growth in English Language Arts and 66 percent growth in mathematics. This district-wide improvement was seen regardless of students’ remote or hybrid learning models. “Our remote learning program this year has been taught by Peabody teachers, synchronously, with Peabody students. That’s a huge part of the reason why I think our students found success through our program,” Vadala said. “They were learning from our curriculum, using district resources and they maintained a connection to Peabody Public Schools. Students’ may opt for a more permanent remote learning option for a variety of reasons, including medical reasons, social-emotional needs, concerns about the ongoing pandemic or because they simply prefer it. Regardless of their reason, we know that we have the tools to create an engaging, personalized remote learning opportunity for these students for years to come and we’re excited to begin planning for what that will look like.” The district has identified two possible avenues for remote learning to continue next year, and will continue to consider other potential options as well. First, the Peabody Public Schools could apply to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to open a fully remote kindergarten through grade 12 school, operating as its own, separate school within the district. The Peabody Public Schools would be among the first, if not the very first, districts in the state to offer such a remote program. The second option is an in-district program through which remote students would be linked to their current school. Vadala has named current Assistant Superintendent Dr. Chris Lord as the executive director of remote learning and community partnerships. Lord will oversee the development, implementation and eventual operation of the fully remote, personalized virtual learning program. Lord has worked directly with remote teachers this year to offer support, as well as oversee scheduling and logistics for remote learning. He joined the district three years ago, and served as interim principal at Veterans Memorial High School last year. He also played a key role in the high school’s accreditation process last year, through which the school earned full accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. “Our remote teachers did a phenomenal job engaging students this school year, and we saw that our students can and did succeed in a remote learning environment,” Lord said. “This is an opportunity for our district to create a personalized virtual learning program that can meet students where they are, and I’m looking forward to working with our teachers and staff, students and families to make this happen.” upino Insurance AUTO | HOME | BUSINESS | LIFE EMAIL: info@supinoinsurance.com 550 Summer St 1012 Eastern Ave. at Pillings Pond. Malden Welcome Back 781-334-4888 781-322-2800 ITEM CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS! Call Customer Service to place an ad 781-593-7700, ext. 2 Catch up with your favorite team in Item Sports!
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