LYNN — Superintendent Dr. Patrick Tutwiler has recommended that the Lynn Public Schools continue with remote learning for the second quarter of the school year.
Under the plan, public school students would continue to learn remotely through at least Feb. 5, when the second quarter ends.
Tutwiler has recommended that certain groups of students would return for in-person instruction on Jan. 19, which is toward the end of a quarter that begins on Nov. 23.
All Lynn students have been learning remotely since schools closed last March due to the coronavirus. The decision to start the current school year online was made in August based on health metrics, which showed Lynn’s COVID-19 infection rate was three times the state average.
“The decision to go full remote shortly after July 29 data reflects closely to where we find ourselves now,” said Tutwiler, noting that the city is still designated as a red, or high-risk community by the state Department of Public Health.
“The city has seen a reduction in cases, but we have not yet seen a switch to move ourselves out of remote (learning). As of late, there’s been a surge in cases in the city as well as nationally.”
On Feb. 1, which kicks off the last week of the second quarter, district administration will begin to discuss bringing back additional groups for in-person instruction, which would be contingent on the city’s designation improving to yellow, or moderate risk, for three weeks.
Approximately 236 special education students would be eligible to return for in-person learning under the plan, which Tutwiler presented to the School Committee on Thursday night. Another 73 students with limited or interrupted formal education have also been targeted for an early return to in-person instruction, Tutwiler said.
“The (state) Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has identified groups of special education students as being the most negatively impacted by the quarantine last spring,” said Tutwiler, explaining that remote learning is very challenging for certain groups of students.
“We chose the tier of students who were most impacted by the quarantine, the closure last year and continue to be impacted.”
The number does not cover the school district’s total number of special education students, which is approximately 2,500, Tutwiler said, noting that he does not want parents to think their decision to bring back certain groups and exclude others marginalizes the needs of those other students.
“(We) have to consider students who aren’t able to sign in at all, (whose) participation requires a massive amount of parent or guardian time,” said Tutwiler. “We’re trying our best to open it up safely to as many groups as possible, but we have to prioritize those whose needs we struggle to meet the most.”
Special education students would come from groups, such as the Creating Opportunities for Autistic Children (COACh) and pre-kindergarten, and would learn on site at their designated schools.
Students with limited, or interrupted formal education, which Tutwiler said is the group most at risk of dropping out in the district, would only learn at Lynn English and Lynn Classical High schools, according to the plan.
“For some groups, regression is not just possible — it’s probable,” said Tutwiler, referring to students who struggle with remote learning.
Tutwiler plans to ask the School Committee for a formal vote on his second quarter plan at their next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 19.
