Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 8/25/2020
EASTHAMPTON – Superintendent Allison LeClair gave the School Committee and the public an update on where they stand as far as getting tents for the students, updates to the school calendar and the new school building.
Although students will be remote learning until Oct. 9, LeClair said they looked into having tents in Nonotuck Park but a number of issues arose.
The park will only have one set of restrooms open with two stalls which school officials felt would not be enough for the students plus staff. Park staff is also not cleaning the restrooms, so it would be up to the school to hire custodial staff to keep them clean. The pavilions that would give the teachers access to power will not be open this season, and access to Wi-Fi is an issue. The park also closes on Oct. 31.
There is a concern about weather and vandalism of the tents because they will not be stored away from bad weather conditions and people visiting the park.
“I have concerns that if we are in a space like the park, which is not right next door to a school, I won’t have a nurse or a building administrator there unless I relocate someone out of a building to over there. I think it is a safety issue for students. I think our students are put in an open area where other people may come by and we don’t know them. I think other people could access the restrooms,” said LeClair.
She also found it to be a disadvantage for those who are disabled and might have trouble accessing the tents and restrooms.
After visiting the park, LeClair did not recommend it, and suggested that they set up 30-by-30 tents on the school properties. She suggested placing two tents at the front of the high school, one at Maple Elementary School and one at Center Pepin Elementary School. She does not suggest having any tents at White Brook Middle School due to the construction zone-like area. The two tents at the high school would serve the middle school students as well.
The tents would be used for possible class meetings for one or two hours, testing, assessment of students, class meetings, an opportunity for teachers to meet with students in-person to build a relationship. The chorus could use them as well and a physical education class could take place in them. Kindergarten teachers could also use them for storytime or to do some sort of project together.
“The councilors have expressed an interest in using it, maybe for friendship group activities, college type activities with students,” said LeClair.
They are having difficulties locating these tents but expect to spend between $9,000 to $10,000 total. They would also have to find some type of storage to keep the tents for the spring.
School officials are also looking to use six pop-up tents that the district and the superintendent’s team already have. They are 10-by-10 which would be used for kindergarten screening, Chromebook distribution and anything else they may need them for.
It was unknown they will be available for the first day of school but they will purchase them in a fast manner and then handle negotiations to see if they can staff them.
Committee Chairperson Cynthia Kwiecinski said she believes they can fit one or two more tents at the high school. She added some of the committee members should reexamine where they might be able to add more tents that do not interfere with parking.
“I think at the high school, we have a little bit more freedom and I think if we squeezed a few more tents in, it would be well worth it,” said Kwiecinski.
Committee member Marin Goldstein said the committee should look into having a small tent at White Brook Middle School so when students are back in person, they can use the tents for mask breaks.
LeClair said they have been advised not to use the tents in the winter because they need a place to move snow and the tents won’t withstand the winter elements.
Goldstein argued that before they have snow, they will still have weather that will make it uncomfortable for students to have mask breaks outside.
Kwiecinski stressed that she believes that they will be using tents in the spring as well as the fall so she thinks they should look to do the most and get more tents.
LeClair also gave an update on the new school building. The construction is ahead of schedule because of the lack of traffic in that area. There is also a video on the Easthampton Public Schools Facebook page that shows the building project including the rotary.
Since the students are starting school Sept. 14, parent-teacher conferences were pushed back to mid-November because officials felt mid-October was too soon. Two new professional days were added as well to meet the 170 school day requirement. They are Oct. 7 and Nov. 2.