The Natick School Committee has postponed its Wednesday, Aug. 5 meeting, when it was set to vote on the town’s educational model for 2020-21, until Monday Aug. 10.
The decision on whether to go remote or hybrid was postponed as the result of the state being expected to release important information on Thursday, Aug. 6. One thing for sure is that Natick won’t start the school year with a full return to live, in-person schooling.
Natick Public Schools Supt. Anna Nolin at this past Monday’s School Committee meeting expressed frustration (as have other superintendents) with the state’s “putting things out in beta and then pulling them back, then putting them out, then pulling them back or not bringing them out.”
Among the challenges schools choosing a remote-only approach will face are tougher audits by the state and possible loss of federal dollars. Questions remain as well about what flexibility families that might choose one approach over the other, if given an option, will have to change their mind once they see what they’re students have gotten themselves into.
Look for school to start Sept. 16 under whichever plan Natick chooses, per an agreement between the state education commissioner and teacher’s association to allow for mandatory staff professional development. The Natick Public Schools system has been working closely with the town’s Board of Health to make its plans.
