Return to Learn 2020

Dear Ipswich Community,

On March 12, 2020, the education of our students in Ipswich was turned on its head. Schools were forced to close amid concerns about spreading COVID-19 pandemic. The Ipswich Public Schools quickly transformed from a brick and mortar learning model to a fully remote model in a matter of days. Our staff and students are to be commended for their flexibility and commitment to learning. From March until June, our students, teachers and families engaged to the best of their ability in this new learning environment. How we are responding to this pandemic will be the subject of discussion in the annals of history.

As we prepare for the opening of the 2020-2021 School year, we are faced with many of the same issues: How do we safely provide an education to ALL of our students while taking into account the health, safety and individual concerns of students, staff, and families? There are no easy answers. There is no one correct answer. (Unless of course the virus were to disappear completely and we go back to educating our students as we did prior to March 12!)

Over the summer, there have been several groups working on researching models, conducting surveys (including students) and conversations with staff, analyzing the data, and reviewing the many documents that have been provided by the state and other parts of the country. The groups included teachers, parents, staff members, and several members of the School Committee. In June, DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) asked Districts to develop three models of education to be considered for the fall: A full reopening, a hybrid model of some sort, and a full remote learning mode. On July 30, I submitted our initial thinking around these three models to DESE, as required. There has been no final decision made as to what model the District will pursue, but we are hearing from stakeholders on all sides of the issue; some advocating for a full return, others for staying remote until a vaccine is found and available, and others somewhere in between. While all three models still have to be fleshed out and developed, I anticipate that the School Committee will settle on a recommended model in the coming week.

The School Committee will make the decision as to what the model will be in the fall. You also will have the choice of full remote learning for your family. We have developed this website and related links so that you have the information available to draw your own conclusions as to what will best fit your family. Our goal is to choose a model that is flexible enough to allow the needs of all our students, staff and families to be met. Please keep in mind that through all of this, the health and safety of our students, staff and families are at the forefront of our thinking. Updates to this website will be frequent over the next few weeks in particular, so please check back regularly.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian J. Blake, Superintendent