EBCS

File: EBC-S

File: EBC-S

POLICY ON COVID-RELATED ISSUES

The School Committee takes note of the COVID-19 emergency; resulting disruption of the traditional school day and year; growing concerns of students, families and the community; and the growing number of issues that will affect public education.

Therefore, the school committee establishes an emergency, interim policy to:

    • promote public safety and safety of students and faculty,

    • maintain to the extent possible the high and efficient level of educational services,

    • ensure support for students in general and in particular for those at highest risk educationally as well as those at social and economic risk, and

    • comply with the emergency orders of the governor and adhere to the extent possible, to the guidance of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and other agencies of state and federal government and expedite the safest strategy for returning students to school.

The school committee will approve the final plan submitted to DESE which will outline its strategy for returning students to school and will, in collaboration with the superintendent, make such modifications to the “back to school plan,” and district policy, and will authorize the superintendent to suspend, revise or create protocols to facilitate the safe return to school.

The superintendent will designate the appropriate staff members to oversee the safe administration of COVID-related policies during the period of the pandemic emergency and shall make such recommendations to the school committee as needed.

The school committee will authorize the superintendent to act expeditiously in executing the “back to school” plan in accordance with current law and regulation and will, where noted, authorize the superintendent to suspend, revise, or recommend policies, rules and protocols as needed to serve the best interests and safety of students, their families, and the community.

The “back to school” plan shall constitute the policy of the school district during the pandemic emergency, and the superintendent shall exercise the authority provided in law to carry out the plan as needed.

    • General district goals affected by the pandemic.

The superintendent, with the advice and consent of the school committee, may suspend or modify individual district policies to address the COVID-19 emergency as declared by the governor. Such suspension of policy shall expire upon the end of the emergency as declared by the governor.

The goal of emergency pandemic policies shall be to:

    • ensure the safety and health of students, faculty, staff, and all persons who may come in contact with them;

    • provide the most effective educational services as possible to students under the circumstances;

    • authorize changes to operating protocols as needed to open and operate schools effectively from various venues or platforms;

    • conduct the district business and operational functions of the district as efficiently as possible;

    • allow the superintendent and staff to act quickly to carry out a “back to school” plan and,

    • facilitate the re-establishment of a safe and productive school day and year.

SOURCE: Georgetown

Adopted on: January 14-2021