The Everett Public Schools (EPS) has been working diligently this week to work towards unveiling a full distance learning plan for the district to finish out the current school term, and said they hope to have that plan available by the end of the week.
Many parents over the April Break last week have been looking for clarity as to how the district would move forward with online schooling since Gov. Charlie Baker’s announcement last week closing all schools for in-person classes.
Supt. Priya Tahiliani said they had been working on two types of plans, one that would have made allowances for returning to school and another that would have carried on to the end of the school term.
With the governor’s announcement, the latter was fully in play. Last Friday, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released guidance to all districts in the state about how to construct those learning plans, and this week the EPS has been fully involved in making those plans.
“We are working diligently to provide the answers and clarity that students and families seek,” said Tahiliani. “In the past few days, DESE put out new recommendations for remote learning models that can best support our students through this extended closure. We are integrating their recommendations into joint guidance from the Everett Public Schools and the Everett Teachers Association that will be coming out by the end of this week.”
Plans for the new system of education through the end of the year will be available for every grade level, as well as special education and English Learners. Many of the students have already been learning online for more than one month, in what many are referring to as Phase 1 of the move to remote learning and instruction.
•Lunch Distributions On A New Schedule
This week, the food distribution program at Everett High and the Whittier School resumed after a two-week hiatus instituted by City government. However, now the meals program will take on a new schedule.
Starting on Tuesday, April 28, the Meals-To-Go program began operating from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the two locations. That will continue two days per week from here on out. The days for distribution will now be Tuesdays and Fridays. Students at either location can receive multiple meals for the week, as well as printed learning packets. Th district noted that the printed materials are the same materials that are found on the EPS website, and If possible, they requested students access these materials online so they can avoid large crowds at the lunch sites.
•Chromebook Home Deliveries Resume
For those who have rescheduled Chromebook deliveries, the district asks that people are home and readily available by phone at the designated time to receive the Chromebook.
If students have not yet scheduled a Chromebook delivery, please check the EPS website regularly as they will be posting additional time slots for delivery requests.