Superintendent Update 3/9/2021

Dear North Smithfield Families,

Friday, March 12th will be a Distance Learning Day as our district employees, bus drivers and monitors, kitchen workers, coaches, and everyone that works with our children, has the opportunity to receive vaccinations at the joint North Smithfield/Woonsocket vaccination clinic this Friday. Friday will be a synchronous day of instruction, meaning classes will still take place online. Teachers receiving their vaccination on Friday will arrange alternate assignments during the period their vaccination appointment is scheduled.  

Ending Hybrid Instruction starting with Grade 7:

We will be returning our remaining hybrid grade levels (7, 8, 10, 11) to four days a week in-person instruction beginning with Grade 7 which will return to four days a week instruction starting Tuesday March 16th. 

We will shortly announce a schedule for grades 8, 10, and 11 to end Hybrid scheduling. 

In order to do this, we will need everyone’s help and cooperation. For the remainder of this school year, we have to carefully manage our spacing and transportation. 

Buses are currently limited to 50% capacity, up to 36 students.  At NSES, with so many students returning from at-home instruction, several of our buses have reached the 36 student limit. We will continue to monitor and may have to adjust a few routes. 

For the MS/HS buses, we have some space on the buses to begin phasing out the hybrid schedule. We can’t do it all at once, but can ease into it and monitor our counts and make adjustments as needed. 

There is also a strong possibility that in the coming weeks the CDC and RIDOH will be issuing new bus guidance and raise the limits allowable on the bus.  

What expanding in-person learning will  mean (as of this writing)

1. Monday, for now, will remain a Distance Learning Day for the district. We will still have students and classrooms moving in and out of quarantine. We have statewide testing scheduled on Mondays along with the previously scheduled professional development days and holidays.   
   
2. Hybrid classes will no longer be an option. Students will either attend classes in-person or at-home Tuesday - Friday. We ask that you commit to one or the other as we can’t have students moving back between the two unless they are under quarantine. 
   
3. At-home learning is only available only as a full-time parental choice due to a medical need or health concern, or when a student must quarantine. It was never intended to be used as a convenience.  
   
4. We continue to welcome the return of our full-time at-home learners to in-person instruction. While we ask for a commitment, we understand that as more parents and relatives, who live in the same household as our students, receive their vaccinations, the risk to them is lowered and they will want their students to return to in-person learning. 
   
5. With the return of our full-time at-home students and the remaining hybrid grade levels, students will be sitting closer in classrooms and in the cafeteria. We cannot maintain the recommended six feet of separation in every location. Fortunately, our schools have good ventilation and our mask-wearing, handwashing, and cleaning protocols are effective.  Additionally, as the weather gets warmer, we will move more activities outside.  
   
6. Bus ridership remains restricted to 50% capacity. If you have access to alternate transportation to and/or from school we ask that you use it. As more students return to in-person learning, we may run out seats on the bus for those with no other means of transportation. As a result we will have to carefully manage our bus capacity, ridership, and routes. I am told that the CDC and RIDOH are reviewing this restriction and new guidance is forthcoming. Hopeful bus restrictions will no longer be an issue. 
   
7. Specific school-related questions should be directed to your respective school administration.
   

Here’s to looking at the light at the end of the tunnel and finishing this year strong and together. 

Michael St. Jean, Superintendent