Good Morning, Reading Public School Community,

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weekend.  Below is Spring In Person Update #5.

• Please sign up for pooled testing-As we transition to full in person learning, we are asking all staff and students to participate in the pool testing program.  This is an additional mitigation step that is critical to maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment.  Here is the link to give consent  https://bit.ly/3oXiiSa.  If families who are currently in pool testing want to remove their consent, please contact Julian Carr at Julian.Carr@reading.k12.ma.us.  Please note that any changes in consent made over the weekend may not be able to be addressed until the following week.

• This week’s health data-Here is this week’s health data:
  1. Birch Meadow remote student tested positive.  There were no in school contacts, but 7 outside student contacts.
  2. Wood End student tested positive with no in school contacts.
  3. 2  Coolidge students tested positive, 1 in person, 11 students quarantined, 1 remote with no in school contacts.
  4. 1 Joshua Eaton student in person tested positive, 18 students quarantined.
  5. 2 Parker students tested positive, 1 remote with no in person contacts and 1  in person resulting in 12 students quarantined.
  6. 1 Killam student tested positive,  in person resulting in 17 students 1 teacher quarantined.

• Pool Testing Results
  1. 1 positive RMHS pool, positive individual identified no contact tracing required because the person had previously tested positive within 90 days.
  2. 1 Inconclusive Killam pool, positive individual identified with antigen testing, class (17 students 1 teacher) quarantined.
  3. Totals this week
     1. 212 pools, 1 positive (previously + individual, no contact tracing)
     2. 1 inconclusive, identified +, 17 students 1 staff quarantined.
  4. Total overall testing: 1012 pools, 11 positive pools, 3 inconclusive pools with positive reflex results

• Updates on RMHS Principal Search-This week we will be finalizing our RMHS Principal Search by attending site visits of all three finalists and then having one final interview with each candidate.  A decision on the next Principal of RMHS will be made by this Friday.

• Updates on Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Teaching Search-The Screening Committee has been chose for the Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Teaching and they have had their first meeting.  There will be a follow up meeting to design the questions prior to the interviews.  The deadline for applications for this search is April 23, 2021.

• Updates on Birch Meadow Principal Search-We are in the process for choosing the Screening Committee for the Birch Meadow Principal Search.  Those who applied for the screening committee will be notified early this week.  Interviews will begin after April Vacation.

• Updates on METCO Director Search-We are in the process for choosing the Screening Committee for the METCO Director Search.  Interviews will begin after April vacation.

• SEPAC Meeting on Tuesday- Please join the SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) at our next business meeting on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 7:00 PM! New business to be discussed includes a presentation by Team Chair, Kelly DiCato, on the DESE Resource Guide to the MA Curriculum Frameworks for Students with Disabilities, followed by caregiver comments/questions; also a parent prepared presentation on local/regional community resources providing family education/advocacy, recreational opportunities, and summer camps, followed by a parent discussion regarding the same; and other items.  Please join us for these presentations and discussions and feel free to share any additional resources that you think other parents may find helpful.  All are welcome!
  This meeting will be held virtually, via Zoom at the following Meeting link: Join Zoom Meeting

Have a great rest of the weekend!