This petition has been organized by Parents for Increased In-Person Learning at Weston, a community-based organization of concerned parents and guardians advocating for a five-day, full-day schedule of in-person learning across all grade levels at Weston Public Schools, while maintaining RLA for those with concerns about attending in-person school.  The move to five-day, full-day in person learning is based on the current data and scientific-based research. 

The current model of hybrid learning is not providing the quality of education that our children need and deserve. The model also has serious unintended consequences related to our children’s mental and physical health, as is evident from our personal observations, observations of physicians and psychologists, and well-documented problems across the country. Despite the best efforts of the districts’ teachers, Weston students are undeniably suffering—academically as well as socially and physically without significant opportunities for social and emotional growth, physical exercise, creative and athletic outlets, and interaction with peers.

While the current hybrid model was based on the prevailing scientific information available at the time, the knowledge and data, from credible sources such as DESE and the CDC, have since evolved and now compel prompt change to allow for full in-person learning. Weston has experienced no in-school transmission of Covid-19 since opening in September. Indeed, there were zero cases of student-to-teacher transmission and very few cases of student-to-student transmission in two recent, comprehensive studies. One study, from North Carolina, found only 32 instances of student-to-student transmission in the 100,000 students and staff studied, while another study, from Wisconsin, found only seven cases of student-to-student transmission among the 5,300 students and staff there.

At this point in the school year, the district should have already created and vetted a plan, as surrounding school districts have, for five full days of in-person learning for all students that could be implemented swiftly. Unfortunately, that has not been done. Accordingly, we respectfully request a response from the School Committee by February 23, 2021, regarding the district’s ability to implement the following:

·         By March 1st and through March 31st, an increase in in-person learning for all students at the Middle School and High School to include 5 half days of 8:45 am – 1:00 pm (no lunch). This could be accomplished by:

o  Combining Cohorts A & B into one Cohort by increasing the density of existing classroom space to accommodate the enlarged Cohort; this would result in the additional in-person hours the students need without requiring additional teaching support to be hired. This measure can be safely achieved by:

• reducing physical distance of students’ desks in classrooms while still maintaining the still-safe distance of at least three feet (per DESE guidance);
• maintaining at least six feet of distancing around teachers;
• continuing the use of the air purification systems purchased for all classrooms in August 2020;
• whenever possible, opening windows in classrooms to allow for the free flow of fresh air;
• continuing the requirement of masks for all students;
• continuing the requirement of masks for all teachers & a suggestion for double masking of teachers, cloth over surgical (per CDC recommendations);
• continuing the schools’ focus on consistent hand-washing and sanitizing for all students, faculty and staff;
• increasing the availability of PCR testing to include in-school hours thus allowing all students to be tested on a regular basis;
• increasing communication of the merits of weekly testing for all students—not just those who are symptomatic, who have recently broken their “bubble” or who have traveled outside of MA;
• establishing testing metrics and reporting results weekly; and
• if necessary, increasing the availability of bus transportation for all students by reducing distance between students from 6 feet to some distance of at least 3 feet.

·         No later than April 1st, an increase in in-person learning to 5 full days for all students across all schools.

• This model would require allowing lunch in school (having lunch available to all students but encouraging students to bring their own lunch).
• This full-day schedule is consistent with the planning WPS has already begun to expand the school day to include lunch by late-March.

·         Maintain or expand the RLA program to offer curriculum consistent with that of increased in-person learning.

NOTE: Consistent with CDC guidelines and the approved and pending plans of several surrounding school districts, we propose that these changes be implemented regardless of the status of vaccinations for teachers, staff and/or students.

We respectfully request that these changes to the existing learning model be added to the School Committee agenda for the evening of February 23, 2021.

As we are sure the relevant parties are aware, the Massachusetts Constitution provides for a right to an adequate education. See McDuffy v. Secretary of the Office of Executive Education, 415 Mass. 545 (1993). To ensure that the district fulfill this obligation, we intend to explore all available options, including legal options, if prompt action is not taken to support the best interests of our students.