Good Afternoon, Reading Public School Staff and Families,

I hope that you are doing well and you are enjoying this weekend.  Here are some weekly updates:

• Green to Yellow-This week, the Town of Reading went from a designation of Green to Yellow in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Weekly Public Health Report.  In addition, as communicated earlier this week, we had four students and one staff member test positive for COVID-19. 

With more and more students and staff now entering our schools, we ask families to follow the state guidelines for prevention of spreading COVID-19.  We are doing everything that we can in our schools to keep your children and staff members safe by putting in place several health and safety precautions as outlined by DPH and CDC.  However, I have observed and we have received concerns from community members that outside of school, students are not following health protocols such as proper physical distancing and the wearing of masks.  Other school districts have had to go fully remote for at least a few days and in some cases, up to two weeks, because of students or staff testing positive.  We want to minimize those risks as much as possible and we ask for your support in educating your children the importance of following proper health precautions.  Thank you in advance for your support.

• Job Share Positions-We want to thank all of the community members who have inquired about in person job share paraeducator and tutor positions.  Our principals have begun interviewing those candidates and we are beginning to fill those positions at the elementary level.  Once we hire positions, it takes approximately one week to onboard an employee to make sure that they have all of the necessary paperwork and requirements completed.  As a result, our Grade 3 students are beginning to come back on November 2^nd and we are optimistic that we will be able to bring Grades 4-5 back to a full hybrid model soon.

We still have several openings at the High School for paraeducator positions and we still have a few openings at the elementary level.  If you are interested in a job share position, please send an email to john.doherty@reading.k12.ma.us.

• Phase in Update-This week, we welcome Grades 11/12 to a modified hybrid schedule.  In addition, we will have Grade 3 going to a full hybrid schedule, beginning on November 2^nd (Cohort A).  Cohort B for Grade 3 will begin hybrid on November 9^th.
• Out of State Travel-As we get closer to the holiday season, we want to remind families about the Department of Public Health guidelines for Out of State travel. The full guidelines are located at the link below.

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order

                In summary, the guidelines state the following:

• All visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, who do not meet an exemption, are required to:

• Complete the Massachusetts Travel Form prior to arrival, unless you are visiting from a lower-risk state designated by the Department of Public Health.
• Quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts.
• If your COVID-19 test result has not been received prior to arrival, visitors, and residents must quarantine until they receive a negative test result.
• Please note that we will not be able to allow students or staff in person who have travelled out of state unless they submit a negative COVID test with 72 hours of return

• SEPAC Information-Below are several updates from the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
  • There will be a Meeting (including Board elections)THIS Tuesday, October 27^th, at 7:00 PM via Teams. 

• The meeting agenda is available here and the link to the meeting is below.
  • Oct 27 Meeting Link
• Understanding the IEP Workshop will be held on October 29^th at 6:00 p.m. You must pre-register by clicking here
• There will be a Transition Planning Workshop on November 2 – 6:00 PM. You must pre-register by clicking here.
• There will be a Virtual support chat for Reading SEPAC Members on November 5 at 7:30 p.m.  To receive the meeting link, Email SEPACREADING@gmail.com
• There will be a Presentation on Facilitated Team Meetings and Mediation Services on Nov 17 – 7:00 PM.  The Meeting link will be forthcoming.
• DESE Guidance about COVID-19 Compensatory Services can be found on the link below.
• COVID 19 Compensatory Services Family Fact Sheet

Thank you for everything that you are doing to support educating our students.  Have a great rest of the weekend, a great week ahead, and be safe.