Schools to skip April vacation as online learning continues

The Lincoln Public Schools will not have April vacation this year — instead students and teachers will continue with their online “Learning at Home Together” efforts during that time.

The School Committee’s decision was based on results of a survey and the recommendation of Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall. Seventy-four percent of families and 80% of faculty favored canceling spring vacation and ending the school year on June 12. If there were vacation as usual, school would not end until June 18. Patriots Day (April 20) will still be observed as a school holiday.

Sixty percent of parents and 67% of faculty said their first priority was that “our students have continuity and consistency of routines, learning and connection to school.” However, a few faculty members who submitted comments advocated keeping the vacation because of teacher fatigue due to additional workload as well as juggling work and young families.

At the School Committee’s online meeting on April 9, Assistant Superintendent Jess Rose gave a presentation highlighting student and family needs/desires, outlined the support structures the district has put in place, and explained what type of Learning at Home Together enhancements could be expected in the coming weeks (see the video of the meeting from 00:57 to 1:48).

Mary Emmons, administrator for student services, gave an update on how students are being supported, even though some of the typical services they normally receive can’t be replicated virtually.  She explained the process regarding students who are on IEPs (individualized education programs for special education students) and 504 plans (for students with identified disabilities) and how students will physically return to school.

More than a third of students in the district now have school-issued computer devices, and Rob Ford, director of technology, described outreach efforts to families who don’t have internet access at home, as well as the work that he and school technology specialists have been doing to train and support faculty as they move to a virtual teaching model.