Catholic schools prepare for reopening

Catholic diocesan and parochial schools announced their plans for re-opening elementary and secondary schools in the Diocese of Worcester on Monday, according to David Perda, diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools.  He explained that there is no single plan that applies to all the schools. Most plans are preparing for on-site learning, although some will begin with a hybrid model combining part-time in school and part-time at home classes. 

According to Superintendent Perda, “Everyone has learned that context matters, meaning that no two schools are alike. The layout of the classrooms, size of rooms, common areas and hallways, etc. vary from school to school. Individual plans were developed by each school’s leadership utilizing appropriate input and feedback at the school level.” 

Schools are making all the necessary preparations to offer safe on-site learning, according to Mr. Perda. “We are following guidance from Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). For example, there will be social distancing, separating students as much as possible or having them work in small groups or cohorts. Procedures will be in place so that teachers rather than students will move to different rooms by subject, when possible. Schools will provide training programs during the opening days of school so that students and families will understand the expectations the school has of them.”  

He added that wearing masks will be mandatory for grades 2 and up, and recommended for younger grades. Schedules and room design will accommodate social distancing as well. 

Teachers will also be expected to follow the same protocols involving masks, hand sanitation, and maintaining social distancing.  

“Teachers realize the critical role that they play in educating children, said Mr. Perda. “Like first responders, we are grateful for their dedication and stepping up when they are needed.” He noted that schools are securing a supply of PPEs to be available whenever teachers or staff need to tend to a student who takes ill during the day, even though the presence of the virus is not known. 

Recent stories in the media have called attention to the outbreak of coronavirus at schools which have already opened in other parts of the country. When asked about whether this was a problem for the Catholic schools in his diocese, Superintendent Perda noted: “I think the key factor here is that these other states have not been mandating and monitoring the safety precautions which we have implemented so well in Massachusetts. When you see videos of students in crowded hallways without masks, it is clear that they are not following the level of detail we are committed to in our individual school plans. That is why starting the year with good orientation and agreeing to expectations on everyone’s part is key to our overall mission to educate these students to the best of our ability.” 

Catholic schools were not required to submit their plans to DESE, but, according to the superintendent, they chose to do so “given the depth of expertise at the state’s disposal.”  The schools used the school planning template provided by DESE, and various levels of review for input, including professional peer review, Catholic schools office senior administration review, and finally, submission to DESE for comment.