Link to Original Letter to Parents of the Reading School System Explaining the Rationale Behind the Opposition to Doherty's Plan

At the August 6th School Committee Meeting, a final vote will be cast to approve one of three plans which will be presented by the Superintendent of Reading Schools John Doherty.  These plans represent the various options the town will use to reopen the School System.

Throughout this process, parents and teachers alike have been surveyed to determine their temperment with regard to the appropriate course of action.  The families of Reading Massachusetts have communicated in overwhelming fashion (84%) their desire for a Full Time, In Person option to reopen schools in September of 2020. 

In the event there is a public health danger to children; 90% of parents voted for a Hybrid Approach to be a secondary fallback option.

In all cases, a fully remote approach was the least desirable by a wide margin.  

The will of the families of Reading in support of their children's holistic growth as students and members of our community is at odds with the desire of the Mass Teacher's Association & (it appears) the local Teacher's Union.

This petition reflects your desire to prioritize a fully in person school model with the option of hybrid or fully remote on a family by family basis.