SEEKONK — Superintendent Rich Drolet announces that the Seekonk Public Schools will continue with their remote learning model through Jan. 11, 2021.
The district went remote the week of Dec. 21.
In consultation with the Seekonk Board of Health and the Seekonk School Committee, and in light of anticipated increased quarantining after the holiday break, the district feels that a remote learning model will provide a structure that is most conducive to student learning and health for the first week in January.
“We are concerned that operating in our current hybrid model with high numbers of students and staff quarantining after the holiday break would negatively impact our ability to teach the majority of our students,” Superintendent Drolet said. “There is no replacement for in-person learning and the connections between teachers and students and their peers. We remain committed to in-person learning, but since August when we developed plans for all three learning models (remote, hybrid, and full in-person), we knew there would be times when our district would have to temporarily shift to remote learning if rates increased.
“I have been proud of the work of our teachers, administrators, and all staff. Our entire school community, which includes our students and families and staff, have done a commendable job following the rules and guidelines related to keeping our students and staff safe.”
Building principals will share remote learning schedules with families by the close of school on Wednesday, December 23.
The district has been in the hybrid learning model since the start of the school year.
Earlier this year both Aitken Elementary School and Seekonk High School temporarily shifted to the remote learning model. In the case of the high school, the building was unable to effectively operate due to the high number of faculty and staff required to quarantine as a result of being identified as close contacts of individuals who had tested positive for COVID-19. Aitken Elementary School started the first two weeks of the school year in the remote learning model due to delays in its building expansion project.
Special education students who attend placements outside of the Seekonk Public Schools will continue to be transported and participate in-person unless notified by their program/service provider.
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