Gov. Charlie Baker announced on March 25 that all public and private schools in Massachusetts as well as nonemergency daycare facilities must remain closed until May 4.
“This is not an extended school vacation,” Baker said. “During this long-term closure, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will work with school districts to further develop educational programming students can use at home… This will allow school districts to provide the best possible opportunities for remote learning to all students.” Click here for remote learning and other educational resources from the state.
“We are working to put a more extensive plan in place to support student learning during this extended closure,” Superintendent of Schools Rebecca McFall wrote parents in an email on Wednesday evening. Parents are being asked to complete an online survey by Friday, March 27 at 7 a.m. (doing so multiple times for more than one child in the schools) about what they and their children need to make home schooling successful, such as help with using online resources, making a schedule, or creating longer-term projects for children. Faculty and administrators will use the feedback to design the next phase of supports and will share plans and our progress early next week.
Before Baker’s announcement, Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley met with teacher, superintendent, and school committee organizations but offered little guidance about remote learning curricula or requirements, according to a Wednesday night email to parents from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Principal/Superintendent Bella Wong.
“Since the order to close all schools effective March 15, 2020, there has been lack of sure guidance offered by state leadership for what is permissible for delivery of alternative education beyond what we are currently offering. What we are allowed to offer is affected by state and federal rules designed to ensure equitable access for all our students. The purpose of the meeting was to impress upon the commissioner the urgency for guidance given a likely extension of school closure. Now that the order for closure has been extended to May 4, the urgency for guidance is all the more imperative. Commissioner Riley suggested guidance would be provided last week, and now states it will be by this Friday.”
In the meantime, L-S staff have been working together to develop “meaningful learning experiences for all our students,” Wong wrote. “L-S teachers will continue with the lesson plans already developed for the remainder of this week. Whether we receive guidance this week as suggested or not, please be assured our planning teams have already considered the possibility of and will adjust for a longer-term of school closure.”
School lunch assistance
In an earlier email to parents on Wednesday, McFall appealed for donations for meal assistance that the schools are providing to needy students. As with most school districts, the Lincoln Public Schools’ regular food service program is not funded in the operating budget. Costs are recouped through federal grants and revenue from student lunch purchases. The federal government is reimbursing districts for providing meals only if 50% or more of the students receive free or reduced lunch and Lincoln doesn’t qualify, so expenses meal assistance during the Covid-19 closure aren’t covered.
Lincoln schools are now providing 55 students in 32 families in Lincoln, Boston, and at Hanscom Air Force Base with lunch for each weekday at a cost of $3.10 per meal, or about $850 per week. The district is seeking donations in any amount to help cover costs. Go to this UniPay site, scroll down to select Lincoln Public Schools, and click the Meal Assistance bar on the left.
Click here for other sources of food assistance in Bostb and MetroWest. Click here for mental health contacts and resources for Lincoln chuldren and families.
Technology devices
The schools last week distributed 47 devices (laptops, Chromebooks and iPads) on loan to families and another 90 on March 25. Anyone in need of technology support may email support@lincnet.org.
MCAS testing
The state has postponed the grade 10 English language arts assessment scheduled to begin on March 24 and the start of the grades 3-8 English language arts assessment window scheduled for March 30. Gov. Baker has asked the legislature to waive the high school competency determination for seniors and all other MCAS requirements for this school year. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
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