Relief, frustration as parents learn BPS phased-in back-to-school plan

BOSTON — On a hot Friday afternoon, Robin Reilly took her two teenagers to swim at Mirabella Pool.

Even on a perfect summer day, returning to school was on their minds since news of a remote start to their year became public as they made their way to the North End.

“I had really hoped with them delaying the start of the school year that they were aiming to start hybrid,” said Reilly.

Even in their own household, there are disagreements over what is best and what is safest for her senior and eight grader.

“I think this is what we need to do to stay safe and I think the safety of my classmates and myself is really important and the teachers in our school they’re all really important to me,” said Coco Palmer, Reilly’s daughter.

Some Boston Public Schools parents call the reopening plan a relief.

“As much as they’re dying to go back to school and I’m dying for them to go back, we’re worried because we still don’t know how safe it is for them to be back into school,” said Maria Cisterna Gold, a parent with four children in Boston schools.

Union President Jessica Tang tells Boston 25 BTU attempted to begin talks with BPS in March, but that negotiations picked up several weeks ago.

“I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction,” Tang said.

Testing is one unresolved issue, according to Tang.

The BPS School Reopening Fall 2020 Draft 2 states that current CDC guidance and BPHC recommend testing “in the presence of symptoms or when an individual has been exposed to someone with COVID-19.” The reopening guide says families can access COVID-19 tests through mobile sites or their health provider.

Tang added that there are concerns with simultaneous instruction and the idea of switching student groups that under the plan, are mostly, supposed to be kept together.

BTU says teachers with medical conditions that put them at greater risk for being infected as well as older teachers are not fully comfortable with the reopening plan as-is.

Tang said more discussions between BPS and BTU are expected.

The reopening also says that BPS will continue to track local health data and be guided by the advice of health experts as the first day of school approaches.

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