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Date: 9/2/2020
LONGMEADOW – The Longmeadow School Committee hosted a meeting to discuss the approved school reopening plan, a report on HVAC compliance and extracurricular activities, as well as the plan for fall sports in Longmeadow at their Aug. 25 meeting.
At the start of the meeting, many members of the Longmeadow girls soccer team came on the Zoom call to urge members of the school committee to vote to allow fall sports in Longmeadow. Members cited social and emotional health being important during this time, and because of the isolation of the past several months, “being together as a team would bring some form of normalcy to our lives,” a member of the team stated. Each girl echoed the sentiment that they were willing to follow all protocol to make sure playing soccer would be safe for the team.
Several members of the team who spoke offered reasons why playing soccer this fall would be important. Some cited that this could be their last opportunity to be scouted for college soccer, while others noted that they missed out on a spring sports season this year due to COVID-19. One athlete stated she wasn’t able to play soccer last year due to an injury, and this would be her final opportunity to play.
In addition, several team members referenced the possibility for a winter soccer season. Many mentioned that Longmeadow doesn’t have a suitable space for them to play soccer while being protected from the winter elements.
As the committee transitioned out of public comments, they moved to discuss the reopening plan. As it stands today, Longmeadow is set to reopen schools by starting remotely for all grades with a phased-in approach. Kindergarteners through fifth graders phase into the hybrid model on Sept. 21, grades six through eight phase into a hybrid model on Sept. 29, and grades 9-12 phase into a hybrid model on Oct. 5. Students will begin the school year on Sept. 14 remotely, with the exception of Pre-K students and students with intensive needs beginning the year in person.
At the Aug. 25 meeting, Superintendent M. Martin O’Shea started off with an update presentation of the reopening plans, cohort C, the reopening continuum, facilities and HVAC readiness, COVID-19 scenarios, and athletics.
O’Shea started by sharing that the district asked families to register for their cohort, A, B, or C. He explained there is a “nearly full return rate” and that 14.5 percent of families opted for Cohort C, which is the fully remote learning program that is integrated with the LPS hybrid model.
O’Shea then discussed COVID-19 scenario response protocols. He shared a quick slide that describes the district’s adherence to DESE guidance, which requires the district to evaluate, separate, clean and disinfect, and quarantine and test depending on specific circumstances. During these types of scenarios, there would be contact tracing by the Board of Health, communication between LPS and the Board of Health, and communication between LPS staff and parents.
The meeting then turned to a more lengthy discussion on more specific information in regard to COVID-19 scenarios should a student or staff member be symptomatic. Discussions surrounding these scenarios can be viewed on the LongmeadowTV YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewk7ojAg_Ws
When it came time for a facilities and HVAC readiness report, O’Shea shared that filter upgrades to MERV 13 ratings occurred where possible, more frequent filter changes and equipment cleanings will be commencing, and fresh air dampers are now set to 100 percent open. The HVAC systems in school buildings are set to unoccupied mode will run 24/7, and exhaust fans across the district are set to run at high speed. There has been an installation of off hand sanitizer stations, an acquisition of electrostatic disinfection equipment with ready-to-use hospital grade disinfectant. There is an installation of ionizers on return ducts of all large handlers in the district, plexiglass for main offices and other areas were installed as needed, and physical distance decals and space markers have been installed. Every classroom now has 75 percent alcohol wipes, window repairs have occurred to guarantee operability, HEPA air purifiers for the nurses’ health suite and areas identified for ventilation improvement, chemical safety data sheets sign boards were placed for disinfectant products being used onsite, and there was a ventilation system assessment.
“My hope is first and foremost for everyone’s safety. After that, we are eager to reconnect as a learning community in terms of the academics and social-emotional connections between the staff and students,” O’Shea said. “I hope that we’re able to apply everything that we learned about hybrid and remote instruction through the preparation that’s been undertaken this summer.”
The committee discussed how and when they will make decisions about phasing in additional in-person learning at some point in the future if health and safety conditions allow.
“There’s definitely some nervousness around this,” O’Shea said. “Certainly, some wondering and questions, but I’m also sensing some hope that people are eager to get started with our kids.” He added, “I’m looking forward to a reopening and working with our kids and families.”
In regard to the fall sports season in Longmeadow, the committee was given guidelines by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and Massachusetts Department of Education. According to this guidance, low risk sports can participate in individual or socially distanced group activities, which include non-contact workouts, aerobic conditioning, individual skill work and drills, competitive practices such as intra-team/group games, contact drills and scrimmages, or competitions including intra-team/group games, contact drills and scrimmages, as well as tournaments to be hosted outdoors only. Moderate and high-risk sports can participate in individual or socially distanced group activities as traditionally played. Moderate sports can reach competitive practices and competitions if they can modify to limit contact or increase distancing for participants.
In his presentation regarding athletics on Aug. 25, Longmeadow High School Principal Thomas Landers explained that any school district that is designated as yellow, green or unshaded based on the Department of Public Health metrics map and is also learning remotely at the start of an athletic season must have their sports season approved by the school committee to participate in the current season, or move those sports to the floating season, referred to as “Fall 2.”
After running through a series of the MIAA COVID-19 Task Force’s recommendations in regard to athletics for the upcoming sports seasons, LPS Director of Athletics Michael Capotosto indicated that more information was needed regarding the following subjects: the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference (PVIAC) with schedules and modifications, transportation, sub-varsity teams, spectators, locker rooms, user fees, coaching salaries, and booster club fundraising.
Landers shared that 80 percent of LPS students participate in at least one sport.
The Longmeadow School Committee unanimously voted in favor of a motion to authorize the LHS admin to continue to pursue the commencement of athletics on Sept. 18 through July 3, 2021, pending the release of MIAA and PVIAC guidelines and recommendations.
The following week, in a separate meeting of the school committee on Sept. 1, the group discussed athletics again. While many aspects of athletics appeared to still be up in the air, Capotosto indicated that in regard to student transportation to games, he believes the district should be able to provide transportation.
School Committee Member Kevin Shea asked Capotosto what teams and or towns will not be playing this fall. Capotosto stated that it is still being worked out and could not release the information yet as some towns have not voted yet officially. With that said, schools that did vote no to an athletics season so far included Palmer, Hampden Charter School of Science West, and Pittsfield and Taconic. He also stated he heard Amherst may have voted no as well. With that said, he noted that from what he’s hearing and seeing behind the scenes, all of the surrounding schools that Longmeadow typically plays within their leagues are giving a “yes” to continue to move forward pending all of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) guidelines.
When it comes to timeline, Sept. 18 would be the official start date for the sporting season unless the league decided to push it back, Capotosto said. In addition, no games would take place before Oct. 1 to allow for a two-week window to have normal practices and workouts. The end date for the Fall 1 season would be Nov. 20.