By Alex Reidy

The School Committee Regular Meeting took place virtually on February 8. The biggest news to come from the meeting was the tentative agreement between public schools to allow groups 1 and 2 – special needs and ELO students – back into in-person classes beginning in March.

No official timeline was given for grades K-12, and they await ratification of the deal itself before they move to plan the return of all students.

This return is dependent on maintenance work, specifically ventilation work. Students cannot return until Honeywell, the contractor in charge of the work, completes the plethora of cases that have been filed. 206 at Winter Hill alone, and only 43 of those have been completed so far.

A specific case brought up was the pressurization of a stairwell in the high school that has failed its test two times, but after a recent test the Committee might be ready to pass it.

The goal of the Committee right now is to reopen by March, pending positive tests of ventilation and maintenance completions.

During public remarks many issues were raised, mostly in a negative light towards the Committee for inaction to return of the schools to in-person classes and to bring children back to a normal life.

Calls for a 5-day school week were made, and the issue of Spanish speaking adults feeling left out of the Committee’s activities and their children being far more affected and isolated than the rest of the children was brought up. Some felt that the Committee and the city’s lack of attention to the Spanish community was because of language. One person said, “language is the barrier of trust.”

Another problem mentioned was the tearing apart of Somerville communities and people are moving away in order to be able to place their children in private schools that are conducting in-school classes.

A general feeling of malice towards the Committee was noted, and emotions ran high as the public speakers pleaded for action to reopen schools as quickly as possible, just as other towns have done. Many were excited about the March agreement.

The Report of the Superintendent included the possible beginning of the next school year to start before or after Rosh Hashanah, with a September 9 beginning being proposed. There is a continuation of a search for a principal and the application deadline is February 19. Initial interviews will commence on March 8 and candidates will be notified of any information on March 15.

Covid-19 metrics were gone over, including the information of 350 cases being counted in the last 14 days. Summer school was discussed and the logistics that it would entail in running it effectively. The vote on the school calendar was reserved for the next meeting, and a motion to continue to accept several key grants was made and seconded.

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A special meeting is being held on Wednesday, February 17, to vote.

GoToWebinar

6:30 p.m.: Executive Session

1. To discuss MGL, c.30A, sec. 21 (a) (3) for collective bargaining strategy.

6:45 p.m.: Special Meeting of the Whole

1. Ratification of Memorandum of Agreement between the Somerville Educators Union Units A and C and the Somerville School Committee for In-Person Instruction during 2020-2021 School Year.

Please use the following URLs to preregister or on the date and time of these School Committee Meetings to watch them live –
Executive Session: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2276572223586422029.
Special Meeting of the Whole: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8275149223941811469