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'Good Evening, Reading Public School Community. <br /> Throughout this pandemic, our focus in returning back to school has always been the <br /> health and safety of our staff and students while providing the best learning environment <br /> possible given our current situation. As described in our Fall Reopening Plan, the <br /> measures that we are taking include satellite rooms to allow for six foot physical <br /> distancing,proper wearing efface covering,practicing proper hand hygiene, having <br /> parents self-check children at home for symptoms, ventilation filter enhancements in our <br /> buildings, and increased and enhanced cleaning and disinfecting. Our learning <br /> environment includes additional remote learning tools, learning platforms, adequate <br /> laptop supplies for our students, and high end cameras far improving learning in our <br /> satellite classrooms. <br /> For our plan to be successful, we need to make sure all of the above components are in <br /> place and operating effectively before we can safely implement the hybrid model. <br /> (Unfortunately, due to the impact oj'COVID-19 on all areas we have experienced several <br /> logistical and staffing challenges that have delayed the implementation of the plan. Our <br /> challenges include filling staffing vacancies due to an increased volume of leaves of <br /> absences and accommodations for our staff who are unable to work in person, delayed <br /> delivery of technology devices, the challenge of scheduling and retrofitting classrooms <br /> with the appropriate amount offurniture and technology infrastructure and effectively <br /> implementing our learning platforms. <br /> Due to the above challenges, we are going to need to change our phase in hybrid plan to <br /> reflect a later in person start date for most groups of students. This delay will allow us to <br /> hire and train staff for the vacant positions, receive and appropriately set up the <br /> technology and learning platforms, and set up the classrooms for an effective hybrid <br /> model of learning. We will still provide in person instruction for our high needs, RISE <br /> Preschool, and Kindergarten students beginning on September 15th. All other students <br /> will start the school year in a remote model. <br /> At the August 27th School Committee meeting, we will provide a revised phase in plan <br /> which will reflect the above changes. At the School Committee meeting this evening the <br /> Committee will defer public comment on this topic until the next meeting. <br /> We apologize far the timing of this notice and we realize the frustration that this will <br /> cause for families in trying to secure additional child care. However, we felt it was <br /> important that you received this information as soon as possible. We appreciate your <br /> patience as we revise our plan. We are looking at all options to address the concerns. <br /> Ifyou have any questions,please do not hesitate to contact me at <br /> john.dohertyreading.kl2.ma.us. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> John F. Doherty <br /> Superintendent ofSehools" <br /> Mrs. Gaffers arrived at 7:05 p.m. <br /> B. Consent Agenda <br /> Mr. Robinson shared that there would not be a consent agenda vote. All the materials <br /> were not included in the packet. <br /> C. Reports <br /> Page 1 2 <br />