The Plympton Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, Sept. 8. They voted in favor of transferring funds in the amount of $24,950 from the Capital Stabilization Fund in order to finalize the purchase of Two Brooks Preserve, a 113-acre property off Prospect Road. While a transfer of more than $25,000 requires a vote at town meeting, anything under that amount requires only a vote of the Board of Selectman, Finance Committee, and Capital Improvement Committee.

Co-chair of the Open Space Committee Linda Leddy attended Tuesday’s virtual meeting. Leddy thanked the Board for their vote saying, “It is great to have this whole legal acquisition part done.” Leddy said they can now turn their attention to opening. While the town is working with Middleborough on Soule St. access, Leddy noted that there is a “little keyhole” access off Prospect St. that could be utilized if there is a delay. Selectman Christine Joy thanked both Leddy and fellow selectman Mark Russo as well as all those that fundraised to make the purchase possible. “It is definitely a labor of love,” Joy said. “Thank you so much for your hard work.”

Grant Updates

Fire Chief Stephen Silva updated the Board on a number of grants that the Fire Department had been awarded. Saying it had been a good couple of weeks, Silva said they had received notification from FEMA of a $230,000 grant and also mentioned a nearly $12,000 grant. Silva said he was “cautiously optimistic” about several more federal grant opportunities. “I’m addicted to grants… we’re always looking for alternative funding,” Silva explained.

Silva also told the Board that he has been working in conjunction with the Board of Health to hopefully implement a program known as community paramedicine. The program has been successful in other local communities. The program would allow for the Board of Health and Fire Department to work together to provide a multitude of social services to residents including but not limited to mental health services, pharmaceutical services, COVID screenings, vaccinations, and car seat installations. According to Silva, any money spent should be reimbursable as the need for the program came out of the pandemic. Once approved, the program can be up and running within 30 days. “It’s a unique opportunity, very unique,” Silva said.

Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy told the Board that the Council on Aging (COA) was finally in receipt of their new COA van which was purchased in part through a grant. The town voted last year at special town meeting to appropriate the matching funds. It is an 8 passenger, handicap accessible van. Dennehy described it as a “huge win for us and our seniors.” Dennehy also told the Board that she received good news from the state and is now in possession of the $95,000 needed for ADA upgrades to the town house to enhance access for senior citizens.

Dennehy said she has applied for an extension on the Green Communities grant through September of next year. There are still funds left for some energy efficient appliances. A freezer will likely be purchased for the town house as the COA often receives large frozen deliveries. There are a few other odds and ends projects that will be explored including the possible installation of new thermostats at the old townhouse. Dennehy said she wants to be sure not to leave any money on the table.

School Update

Chair of the Plympton School Committee Jon Wilhelmsen attended the meeting to provide an update on the reopening plan for Dennett Elementary. While initially the school committee had voted to begin the year with a phased-in hybrid approach that would have seen most students beginning remotely, they have made adjustments that will allow them to begin in a hybrid model.

The first day of school will be Wednesday, Sept. 16. Wednesdays will be a full remote day for most cohorts. Wilhelmsen said that on any given day there will be 85-95 students in the school which is just under half of the number in a normal school year. Significant changes have been made to the building including removal of furniture and a new cafeteria setup. “The school is going to look quite a bit different than what you would normally expect,” Wilhelmsen explained. A Health and Safety Advisory Committee has also been established and will have representation from both faculty as well as parents.

There is a vacancy on the Silver Lake Regional School Committee. No one ran for the open seat this spring and while Jason Fraser was written in, he was unable to take it on with everything else on his plate. Wilhelmsen said he had been approached by someone with interest in the position.

Truck Traffic and Safety Zones

Two residents attended Tuesday’s meeting to discuss concerns over heavy truck traffic on certain roads. Joe Beck, who said he has been living on Main St. for 37 years, said that trucks are using the street as a cut through. “They’re flying by with no respect for anybody on the street. You can’t even ride your bike or walk on Main St,” Beck explained.

Selectman John Traynor and Building Inspector Tom Millias previously traveled to the work site of a project on Spring St. in Carver where the trucks are traveling to and from. Millias was told that the project would be over soon, and a request was put in for the trucks to travel Route 44 to 58. Russo said he would ask Millias to speak with them again and again, request that the trucks don’t cut across Main St.

Howard Randall had similar complaints regarding Parsonage Rd. and Prospect Rd. He said that a neighbor counted 35 gravel trucks the previous night. “That particular operation, the gravel operation, is six days a week… it certainly distracts from our life here,” Randall told the Board.

The Board expressed interest, as they have done in the past, with taking action to prevent speeding and other traffic infractions. The Board received permission during town meeting to designate safety zones with speed limits of 20 mph where they saw fit. The two intersections of greatest concern were Main St. and Ring Rd. and Prospect St. and Winnetuxet Rd.

The Board voted Tuesday to establish safety zones in both locations and plan to post signage to indicate the 20-mph speed limit. “I remember the time Plympton was known as a speed trap and that is a reputation I would love to have again,” Russo said. Russo also noted that there is nothing in state law that would prevent the safety zone from being rescinded in the future, should the need arise.

The Board plans to pursue action beyond just the safety zones. Traynor proposed establishing a committee to work on plans for making the intersections safer. Russo noted that nearly any solution beyond the safety zones is going to require money. “I think we’re going to be needing to bring to town meeting the request for some funds,” Russo said.

The Silver Lake Regional School Committee met virtually on Tuesday, Sept. 1. They began with a discussion of the school’s reopening plan.

Staff returned to the middle school and high school this week. Silver Lake Regional High School principal Michaela Gill said, “We were thrilled to welcome back our teachers.” She said the first few days were spent reviewing health and safety protocols as well as facility changes. Superintendent Jill Proulx and Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch visited three out of the six schools on Tuesday with plans to visit the other three the following day.

School Committee member Leslie-Ann McGee asked both Gill and Silver Lake Regional Middle School principal Jim Dupille when students and their families can expect their schedules. Gill assured everyone that they are “working around the clock” and said the plan is to have the schedules available early next week. Dupille also said students can expect their schedules sometime next week. Dupille told the Committee that a virtual orientation would be held for incoming 7^th grade students. “I would just like to thank and commend Michaela and Jim and their staff for putting together schedules in record time… I really appreciate everything they have done to make this happen,” Proulx said.

Just as he had done at the Halifax Elementary School Committee meeting the night before, Gordon Andrews recommended that the Committee look into having CARES Act funding cover the cost of much needed building-based substitutes.  Committee member Eric Crone said that using CARES Act funds to hire new staff could prove difficult. Crone said that he asked Plymouth County treasurer Thomas O’Brien about using the funds to hire a nurse leader and was told no. Crone said that if denied, the schools may need to look into using the money for commodities and hiring substitutes from the schools’ budget. Nevertheless, Crone made a motion to allow Andrews to explore the possibility of covering building-based subs for the middle and high schools with CARES Act funding through Halifax. Andrews said he was willing to ask his fellow Halifax selectmen for one sub for each of the schools.

Someone asked about the potential need for subs at the integrated preschool. Proulx said that when the Kingston Elementary School and Kingston Intermediate School consider their need for subs, they would likely need to include the preschool in that. Proulx said that the preschool is typically thought to be under the leadership of Kingston Elementary School principal Kerri Whipple.

Committee member Laura Tilton asked how much of the three towns’ CARES Act funding had been spent on the schools to date. Crone said that while more money should be available under phase 4, as of right now, Kingston doesn’t have any CARES Act funding left from the previous phases. According to Crone, the Kingston town administrator (who has since resigned), misrepresented to the Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen in early July that the town had not been contacted with respect to CARES Act funds for the schools. As a result, the selectmen voted to approve $400,000 for a new ambulance using CARES Act funds. Given that none of Kingston’s CARES Act money has gone to Silver Lake, the town assured Crone that the bulk of the money in the final phase will go to the schools.

As a result of the issues in Kingston, the Regional School Committee passed a motion on Tuesday to ask that Kingston, Halifax and Plympton allocate to the schools a percentage of the towns’ total CARES Act  that matches the percentage of the overall towns’ budgets that are allocated to the annual school budget. The Committee emphasized that the percentage should be of the total CARES Act funds, both past, present and future. The Regional School Committee also asked for flexibility for one-off classes that are difficult to staff as well as noting that the use of the funds is still under development. Chair Paula Hatch plans to send a letter stating such to the three towns’ Boards of Selectmen, Town Administrators, and Finance Committees.

Proulx did note that she was able to apply through the Department of Education and obtain 600 chromebooks to help replenish some of the ones on backorder.

NOTICE OF ADVANCED REMOVAL OF EARLY VOTED BALLOTS FROM ENVELOPES AND ADVANCED DEPOSITING OF EARLY VOTED BALLOTS

In accordance with the Secretary of State Regulations 47.12 and under the provisions of section 7(k) of Chapter 115 of the Acts of 2020, the Town of Halifax will be opening and depositing early voted ballots received up until Thursday, Aug. 27 on Friday, Aug. 28 at 8 a.m. at the Town Hall, 499 Plymouth Street and continue Monday, Aug. 31 at 8 a.m.

As the Town Clerk’s office is closed on Fridays we respectfully ask that observers register by emailing [email protected]  in advance of all processing of early voted ballots sessions.

In accordance with the Regulations 47.12 and the provisions of section 7(k) of Chapter 115 of the Acts of 2020, no results shall be determined or announced until after the time the polls close on Sept. 1. At that time the results from the advance processed ballots will be added to the election day results and posted in a public place.

The above is based on legal information from the State.

What it means in practice is that members of the public are welcome to watch the Town Clerk and election workers open the sealed envelopes containing ballots received via two methods:

1) the early in-person voting that will have taken place from Saturday, August 22 to Thursday, August 27 and

2) and voting by mail from ballots received. The envelopes will be unsealed and the ballots removed from the envelopes. After the ballots are removed from the envelopes, they will be inserted in the voting machines

 While the voting machines will count these ballots, no results based on these ballots will be released during this process.

The votes contained in these ballots are combined with the ballots received on election day (mostly by in-person voting) and the totals will be announced on election day, Tuesday, September 1.

For more information about this process, please contact the Halifax Town Clerk’s office at 781-293-7970.

The Halifax Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, Aug. 11 for their regular, bi-weekly meeting. The  in-person meeting was limited per state orders to 12 participants at a time in the room making it necessary for someone to elect to step outside at certain points when the meeting attendance was over the threshold. Town Administrator Charlie Seelig also had to ask that everyone to put on their masks once there were 11 or more individuals in the Great Room. For meetings with 26 or more participants, the town will need to either do it entirely over Zoom or attempt to do a hybrid of in-person and Zoom. Seelig acknowledged that it is difficult for people to be recognized over Zoom if wishing to speak. Seelig asked the Board’s permission to obtain quotes to purchase wireless microphones to help in the process.

Animal Control Officer Interviews

The Board had several appointments for candidates for animal control officer. Amanda Feighery, who was born and raised in Halifax, said she has a great deal of experience in wildlife management. Selectman Troy Garron asked, “I understand you said you’ve dealt with aggressive dogs, but how would you deal with the people who are just as vicious as the dogs?” Feighery cited past jobs where she worked customer service as well as managerial experience. Police Chief Joao Chaves asked about her scheduling flexibility as the position requires attending the academy. Feighery said she had a great deal of flexibility.

Kaitlyn Grispi was next to interview for the position. Grispi said she has been around animals her whole life and told the Board that her parents bred and showed dogs. In addition to horseback riding she said she has also owned and bred pigs.  Like Feighery she said she had flexibility with her schedule and wouldn’t have an issue attending the academy. Michael Sampson followed Grispi. Sampson said that while he didn’t have any experience with animal control, he did have experience in policing.

Laura Howe was the final applicant to interview. Howe is currently serving as the animal control officer in Whitman. She said she also assists on calls in Hanson, Abington, and Halifax. She brought up the possibility of having it be a regional position.

“I don’t do anything for the money, this town, that town, all the towns together don’t pay me enough to do the job, I do it because I love the job and I want to be the best help I can be,” Howe explained.

“Joe and I do mutual aid for free, it’s part of what animal control officers do,” she added referring to Abington’s ACO Joseph Kenney. Howe said she has already graduated the academy. She also told the Board that residents of Halifax requested that she come and interview for the position. “Clearly you have the credentials and I don’t want to take up too much of your time,” Selectmen Chairman Tom Millias told Howe.

Beautification Committee Appointments

Adrian Barclay and Michelle Barclay met with the selectmen to be appointed to the Beautification Committee. “We appreciate you stepping forward,” Millias said. Kristen Lofstrom was also scheduled to be appointed to the committee but was unable to attend the selectmen’s meeting. Since Lofstrom came with the recommendation of the Chair of the Beautification Committee, the selectmen voted to approve the appointment of all three.

Eagle Scout Project

Richie Green met with the Board to discuss his Eagle Scout project which he plans to complete before the winter. Green plans to create signage for the cemetery including a directory. “I think this is a great project, especially in a town that’s had so many great projects, it’s getting harder to come up with them,” Millias joked of the many successful Eagle Scouts’ projects over the years. “This is a good one,” Andrews concurred. Andrews asked if Green could also share the map with the selectmen electronically so that it could also be shared online. Green said he could.

Garron complimented the Eagle Scouts for their efforts to better the town. The Board voted to allow Green to move forward with his project.

Complete Streets Program

Highway Surveyor Steve Hayward and a representative from Green Seal also attended the meeting to speak with the Board about the state’s Complete Streets Funding Program. Green Seal is the engineering firm that Hayward has been using on several projects over the years.

The program, as explained by Green Seal, could fund the prioritization of projects in town. Green Seal would work with the town to hopefully be awarded up to $400,000 in grant money available for construction, but not design costs.

Town Meeting/Election

Town meeting was once again recessed, this time to Saturday, Sept. 12 at 9 a.m. Seelig said that after speaking with the Finance Committee, the intent is to try everything possible to hold that date. Seelig said that the September date would allow them to have a tax rate hearing and avoid sending out estimated bills to residents. The Board discussed the pros and cons of various locations for town meeting as well.

Seelig asked the Board if they had any questions regarding the list of the town’s election workers. “The list is getting smaller and smaller,” Selectman Gordon Andrews commented. Seelig said that he recognized that there was a shortage of election workers nationwide as many elderly and other high-risk individuals that typically volunteered for the work, were not this year due to COVID. Seelig said, however, that Town Clerk Barbara Gaynor felt satisfied with the number of workers she had.

Officer Commendations

Seelig read a letter from Chief Chaves regarding commendations for Sergeant Patrick Sterling, Officer Patrick DeRoo, and Officer Andrew Lyczynski. The three officers responded to a call on July 31 indicating that a male was unconscious.

The officers arrived on the scene and found the male in cardiac arrest and immediately began life saving measures. They were able to get a pulse on the patient before fire and EMS personnel arrived and took over life-saving techniques. The patient is recovering.

Chaves said in his letter that according to Fire Chief Jason Viveiros, “Had it not been for the quick actions of the officers at the scene, the patient would not have survived this medical emergency.”

Other News

Seelig said that aerial spraying had taken place in Halifax and that the town is now in the high-risk zone.

He said a second round of spraying may take place to achieve maximum effectiveness.

Seelig also told the Board that Robert Johnson has resigned from the Halifax Elementary School Committee. A new member will need to be appointed until the next election.

Amy Troup alerted the Board to her concerns over non-residents causing problems, including violent confrontations, on Halifax’s beaches.

The selectmen had approved non-resident taxpayers to use the beaches but not nonresident, non-taxpayers.

Seelig said it will really come down to asking the Police Chief if he has the capacity to allot more resources to monitor the areas.

Plympton Town Clerk Tricia Detterman is getting ready for the Sept. 1 State Primary Election.  Polls at the Town House, 5 Palmer Rd., Plympton, will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Vote Early, in-Person, on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.   This is also the last day to register to vote.  Also vote on Sunday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, and Monday, Aug. 24 through Thursday, Aug. 27, from 9 a.m to 2 p.m.

“Know before you Go!”  Detterman advises residents to save time and aggravation by asking these few questions:

• Am I a registered voter & what is my party enrollment?

The deadline to register to vote or change your party affiliation for the State Primary Election is Saturday, August 22. You may register to vote or change your party enrollment online at: www.registertovotema.com

Unenrolled (independent) voters will need to choose which primary ballot type they want to vote on).  Voters who are registered in a particular party (Democrat, Republican, Green-Rainbow, Libertarian) can get that ballot only.

• Is my voter status “active”?  Check your voter status online.

• What will I be voting on?

Educated voters will reduce the amount of time necessary in the voting booths. View sample ballots at the Town House outside the main entrance. Our commitment to keep voters safe:

• Voting Booths will be cleaned throughout the day

• Unused / sanitized pens will be provided to those who need to borrow one

• Hand sanitizer will be provided at the check-in and check-out. Do not go to the polls if you are sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick prior to election day.

Wear a face covering.  Bring a pen with black or blue ink to mark your ballot.  Bring a clipboard or book to mark your ballot on if you don’t want to use a voting booth.  Bring your identification – in some cases you may be asked to show your ID.

This can be a license, a bill with your name and address on it, and this must match how you are registered.  Don’t touch your face while at the polling location.  Maintain social distancing – keeping six feet away from anyone who is not in your household.

The Halifax Elementary School Committee met on Tuesday, August 4 to discuss and vote through the comprehensive plan for reopening. The plan is due to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) on August 10. They ended up delaying the vote, however, as they wished to have the results of the most recent survey before voting. Over 150 people were in attendance for the virtual meeting.

President of the Halifax Teacher’s Association, Stephen Ruisi, asked chair Gordon Andrews for permission to address the committee. Ruisi expressed concerns on behalf of the teachers that some members of the school committee had previously expressed a preference for a return to full, in-person learning in the fall. He said that an internal teacher survey conducted this past weekend indicated that not even one teacher was in support of full, in-person learning. He expressed dismay that 3 feet would be considered adequate social distancing in schools.

Daniel Beshers also asked to speak. He referred to a return to full, in-person learning as a naïve choice. Beshers referenced concerns recently shared by Dr. Ashish Jha, the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute regarding the current state of Massachusetts’ COVID response. Jha said, ““They’re heading in the wrong direction… I worry that a lot of people living in the Northeast think that we’re done with the pandemic.” Beshers also referred to students as the most precious members of our community noting that even if they were less likely to get ill from the virus, they could potentially spread it to family members and other members of the community.

Jennifer Carroll also elected to speak saying she was in favor of kids returning to school as much as possible. She called the remote learning that was offered in the spring “awful” and suggested that those that wish to return to in person schooling are allowed to do so while those wishing to stay fully remote are also accommodated. Ryan Adams also offered his thoughts saying that it was, in his opinion, inevitable that COVID comes to Halifax Elementary School. He said that full in-person learning is not the way to go.

Committee member Summer Schmaling also offered her thoughts which can best be summarized as a list of concerns over each of the three possible models. She said that she had responded to every member of the faculty or public that had taken the time to reach out to her and said she admired everyone for advocating for their children.

Andrews asked that during Superintendent Jill Proulx’s presentation, the discussion available in the chat area of the remote call be reserved for discussion of the school committee members. Proulx gave an overview of the preliminary plans submitted to DESE the previous week and shared aspects of the fully in-person plan, the fully remote plan, and the hybrid option. She said that the school committee must approve a comprehensive plan by August 10. That plan would still be subject to bargaining by the union as well as approval from the state. Proulx also noted that the Commissioner of education in Massachusetts has approved the use of 10 days for the safety training of teachers and other staff. This reduces the required number of school days from 180 to 170 days.

The comprehensive, hybrid plan is over 30 pages long and is based on hundreds of pages of guidance from DESE that continues to be issued every couple of days. Halifax Elementary School principal Kayne Beaudry shared a sample schedule. As has been mentioned in previous meetings and articles, the hybrid option would consist of four cohorts. Cohort A would attend school in person on Monday and Tuesday and be remote Wednesday through Friday while Cohort B would be remote Monday through Wednesday and attend school in person on Thursday and Friday.  Cohort C would consist of those choosing to be full-time remote. Cohort D would be those students classified as high needs who would be eligible to attend school 4 days of the week. Wednesdays would be reserved as a fully remote day for all students in order to allow for deep cleaning of the building as well as teacher training. The schedules as shared by Beaudry were identical for both remote and in-person with the only difference being a Google Meet in the place of pickup and drop off. For Grades 4-6 who normally rotate classes, the teachers will rotate instead. Core requirements will be prioritized for in person learning while physical education, art, music, etc. will likely be taught remotely. Beaudry also told everyone that they had enough chromebooks in the district for each student to be guaranteed one.

Committee member Alex Meade inquired if Cohorts A and B would be sharing classroom space with Cohort D. Beaudry confirmed that that was the plan. Meade expressed concern that it seemed to narrow the benefit of the hybrid model as there was more potential for cross contamination amongst cohorts that way. If a positive case was discovered in any of Cohorts A, B, or D, they would all have potential exposure.

Committee member Alison Vance asked both Beaudry as well as assistant principal Brian DeSantes what mode of schooling would be their preference. Beaudry noted that all models have their strengths and weaknesses. “I see a lot of strength in the hybrid model; I think it would be a nice balance,” he said. He said that the remote portion of the plan would be more robust than what was seen in the spring. He also noted that based on social distancing guidelines, the school would need an additional 10 overflow classrooms to accommodate everyone for full time, in-person learning. Beaudry mentioned the lack of social and emotional support found in the fully remote option and said that he believes the hybrid model to the be most comprehensive option. DeSantes agreed with Beaudry’s assessment. Both laughed about their personal experiences with remote learning as they have a combined 7 children between them.

Schmaling asked for clarification that no one would be forced to send their children for in-person learning if their preference was to keep them remote full-time. The administration confirmed that the choice will be given and said they are factoring in 5 percent of the student population that will elect to be remote.

A myriad of other issues were also discussed. Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch said that schools will have plentiful supplies of masks for students and staff though the expectation is that the families will provide them for their children. Andrews asked if Halifax could enforce a policy requiring kindergarten and first grade to wear masks despite DESE saying they were only mandated for those in Grades 2 and above. The administration said that the school could create a policy that was more stringent than what was found in DESE’s language though they couldn’t make one that was less.

Another issue that arose regarding the youngest learners was the possibility of sending kindergarten students to school 4 days a week. While ideal, Lynch said that wouldn’t be practical. “There’s a set amount of in person learning you can execute and if you were to allocate that to kindergarten you would have to minimize it in other places,” he explained.

Despite not being able to answer all the questions asked by the public during Tuesday’s meeting, Andrews said that he didn’t want anyone to feel that they were being ignored. He told them that he had personally spent 60 hours over the last week working on issues pertaining to reopening. He encouraged everyone to reach out to the school committee members and acknowledged that everyone had valid concerns. The committee voted to hold off voting a comprehensive plan until Thursday evening’s meeting.

The Plympton School Committee began their July 22 meeting by reviewing the results of the Parent Intentions School Re-Entry Survey that had closed that afternoon. Superintendent Jill Proulx and Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch presented the findings for Dennett Elementary. The survey was non-binding and intended only for informational purposes.

Results of Parent Intentions Survey

Response to the parent survey was strong with 122 people answering, accounting for nearly 70 percent of caregivers. When asked if they plan to send their student(s) to school on site and in person in the fall, nearly 65 percent said they were. Only 5.74 percent said no and nearly 30 percent responded they were undecided.

Caregivers were also asked to respond about their intended mode of transportation. Nearly 46 percent said they intended to use bus services, 53 percent said they were going to drive and drop-off, and only one respondent said they planned to bike or walk. With social distancing guidelines, only one-third of students can fit on the buses.

Preferences for the manner in which school will resume were also explored. The majority of respondents chose some version of a hybrid model that includes six feet of social distancing. Options in this category included attending school with six feet of distance on alternating days (14.88 percent), attending school with six feet of distance on alternating weeks (13.22 percent), or attending school with six feet of distance for half days (9.09 percent). The next largest number of participants or 42.15 percent said they would choose in person learning with three feet of distancing. Only 13.22 percent said they preferred fully online learning. Nearly eight percent responded other.

General concerns of in-person learning included safety, health risks, difficulty of wearing a mask, and staffing levels. Concerns with remote learning included the quality of online learning, loss of social interaction, loss of academic content, and the inability to work with children at home.

Results from the Staff Intentions Survey

The staff survey responses were also presented to the committee. Most responses came from teachers with paraprofessionals making up the next largest number of respondents. Based on the current circumstances, 72 percent of staff said that they do plan on returning to school in-person in the fall. Only one person said no and six said they were undecided. Proulx told the committee that most staff preferred returning to school in person, followed by a hybrid model, with fully remote learning coming in last in the survey. Nearly 74 percent of staff surveyed said their greatest concern with in-person teaching was safety. The greatest staff concern with remote learning was being able to effectively engage students online. Regardless of the mode of schooling, staff also shared concern for the social and emotional health of their students.

July 27 Plympton School Committee Meeting

The Plympton School Committee met again on July 27 this time to review and vote on the preliminary reopening plan that is being submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) on Friday, July 31. The preliminary plan consists of three plans – one for full time in person learning, one for full time remote learning, and one that is a hybrid of the two. Superintendent Jill Proulx said the plans are a result of the efforts of the elementary and secondary working groups who have met twice to work on devising a safe reopening plan. The working groups are made up of staff, counselors, parents, nurses, association leaders, and even students at the secondary level. Proulx noted that the plans also consider the feedback accumulated from the various surveys that have been conducted. By August 10 districts must finalize their comprehensive plan and release it publicly.

Model One: Full In-Person Learning

Proulx and Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch gave a presentation outlining the three versions of the preliminary plan. All three models will follow a consistent schedule in case the school needs to shift from one mode to another. Proulx said the plan for in person learning would use six feet of social distancing wherever possible while meeting DESE’s requirement for three feet, where six feet is not possible. She also noted that the administration recognizes that there is no substitute for in-person instruction and that school plays an important role in social and emotional learning. Proulx said that under the first plan, an option would remain for those that need to remain remote for either health or safety reasons. Just as will be expected with either the in-person or hybrid plan, safety protocols will include masks, ventilation, handwashing, and signage (including floor stickers to indicate appropriate distancing).

Limited Bus Capacity

With social distancing, buses will be at one-third capacity, with a maximum of 24 students on a 77-passenger bus. Students from the same family may share a seat. The state has recommended bus monitors, something Proulx said is estimated to cost $27,000 per position. During the previous meeting vice chair Jason Fraser, the son of two school bus drivers, said it would be too much to ask the drivers to monitor the students. Of the drivers, Fraser said, “I want to be sure that we’re doing right by them as well.” Concerns over adding additional bus runs to accommodate more students include feasibility as well as financial strain. At the elementary level, the cost of the additional runs would be $5,000 per day or $450,000 over the first 90 days of school.   

Model Two: A Hybrid Approach

Two different versions of the hybrid model were presented as potential options. Both options would include live instruction daily regardless of whether students were in-person or remote on a given day. Proulx said that the Massachusetts Association of Superintendents is leaning toward the hybrid approach. Under the hybrid models there would be four cohorts of students, those that remain fully remote, those that are eligible to attend 4 days a week in person due to high needs, and two cohorts of students who would attend school remotely and in-person on alternating schedules. One schedule calls for the alternating students to attend school for two consecutive days each week and the other calls for those students to alternate on a weekly basis.

Under both plans Wednesday remains a fully remote day which would allow for the disinfecting of the building as well as professional development for staff. In both plans Wednesday afternoons are reserved for synchronous instruction between students and teachers.

Model Three:  Full Remote Learning

Proulx and Lynch also presented the plan for fully remote learning. The model would follow a daily schedule and would consist of both synchronous class meetings and asynchronous learning. The administration said they understand the need for professional development for teachers with respect to not only technology tools but also best practices for remote learning. Social and emotional support would be available. Proulx said that while no formal decisions have been made, Schoology seems to be the favored learning management system.

Once the plan is approved prior to August 10, teacher assignments will need to be made as well as student cohorts established if necessary. The building will also need to be physically prepared. Dennett Elementary School principal Peter Veneto, who will play a large hand in preparing the building, praised head custodian Matt Durkee saying the Dennett is in as good a shape as any school. “It is really nice to have somebody that is as on top of it as he is,” Veneto said. At their previous meeting, bathrooms were discussed as an area of cross contamination. Some studies have shown that coronavirus aerosols from toilets can linger either in the air or on surfaces.  The need for things such as automatic soap dispensers and automatic paper towel holders are being considered. These types of expenses may potentially be reimbursable.

Six Feet Minimum

Following the presentation, the committee reiterated some of their preferences, or non-negotiables, from past meetings. Fraser thanked Proulx, Lynch, and the rest of the administrative team for the level of dialogue they have had with the committee regarding the plans. “I appreciate the level of engagement,” he told them. Fraser went on to say that he understood the need to show plans that include three feet of distancing per DESE’s request but reiterated the committee’s decision that six feet is the minimum acceptable distance for any setting at the Dennett. Fraser said he would only allow for a reduction should Massachusetts move onto Phase 4 during which therapeutics or a vaccine would be available. Newest committee member Daniel Cadogen concurred. Chair Jon Wilhelmsen said, “If we can do six feet plus, we should do that.” Dennett teacher Ann Walker added, “Six feet for a child is three feet, three feet – they’re going to be right on top of each other.” Teacher Christine Marcolini thanked the committee for holding to six feet as an acceptable minimum.

Lunch and Recess

The committee and administration also tackled the complicated issues of lunch and recess in school. Proulx said that many students surveyed cited looking forward to lunch and the corresponding socialization it provides. Veneto said that with the current guidelines lunch would likely look quite “military” with only a few students to a table and all facing the same direction in assigned seating. Everyone at the meeting agreed that children need to have some movement during the school day and cannot be expected to sit for six hours. Fraser said that there is a big push for counting outside play as part of the required learning hours this year since the commissioner is citing students’ social and emotional welfare as a big reason for the push to get kids back in school.

A Remote Start

Fraser shared with the committee his feeling that it would be in the best interest of all involved to start the school year remotely, not necessarily for months but perhaps for several weeks. “We do not need to be the canary in the coal mine for Massachusetts,” he told those assembled. He also told them that years from now no one would remember if they took a few extra weeks to get it right, but they would remember if they rushed and something went wrong. Wilhelmsen agreed saying, “not rushing is not a bad thing.” Committee member Amy Hempel said that as a working parent, the hybrid model was appealing. She said that while nothing was ideal, the schedule with two days in school each week and three at home at least offered a sense of consistency around which her work schedule could be planned. In the end the committee voted to approve the preliminary plan with  the caveat that Plympton will only accept 6 feet of distancing until Massachusetts enters Phase 4. The preference voted upon would be to start the year remotely and slowly roll out a hybrid plan. The committee plans to meet again on August 6 to vote through a more complete plan. At the July 22 meeting, Wilhelmsen stressed the importance of constantly reassessing the school’s plan and making small, incremental changes to reduce risk. The goals of Plympton’s plan to reopen remain providing the highest quality education for students while also providing the highest level of safety for the community.

The Halifax Board of Selectmen met on Thursday, July 16. Town Administrator Charlie Seelig said that as of the time of that meeting, there were no new reports of COVID in town. Health Agent Bob Valery said there is a new reporting site on the Department of Public Health (DPH) website for the general public to call the Board of Health with any concerns they may have with restaurant re-openings. Valery said that Lakeside Villa was reopening soon and said that he planned to head there for an inspection. Valery also said that Grille 58 will be opened early next week and that a walkthrough was scheduled for this week to ensure 100 percent compliance.

Valery said of the horse show in town, “I have to admit, I was very pleased. They are taking temperatures right when you get inside the entrance, everybody had masks on, there’s markers for social distancing, there is extra sanitizer and hand washing stations around… so far things seem to be going well there.”  Valery also said that they hired an outsider to head up their COVID force. No spectators are allowed.

Valery told the Board that he planned to visit 163 Plymouth St. that afternoon to address some boats that are sitting on the property. Police Chief Joao Chaves said he had been alerted that some activity was going on there that may have included placing tarps over the boats or moving them. “From a public health perspective, I told him I had environmental concerns and health concerns,” Valery said of the property. “Boats being open they’re just going to take water on and that’s a mosquito breeding ground, all kinds of paint cans and buckets which could easily get spilled into our ponds or grounds,” he continued.

Fire Chief Jason Viveiros asked Seelig about the discussion the Board had earlier in the week regarding what to do with the CARES Act funding. Seelig said that most of the ideas presented centered around PPE and building infrastructure changes. He said that Holmes Library Director Jean Gallant had requested changes to the ventilation system there. Seelig said he plans to make copies of everything for the Board to review at their July 28 meeting.

Town moderator Dennis Carman also phoned in to the meeting to address yet another recessing of town meeting. The moderator is only allowed to recess the meeting for 30 days from the currently scheduled date of the meeting. This time, the Board of Selectmen, the Health Agent, and Carman decided to move it from August 1 to 9 am on August 29.

The meeting is set to be held at the Halifax Elementary School. “I’m aiming for September 12, that’s the last Saturday that’s doable in order to get the tax rate and the tax bills done on schedule; my hope and expectation is that the state budget will be done by then,” Seelig explained. Carman said that he wants to be sure that residents understand not only what decisions are being made regarding the continuations, etc. but also why. “We would love to meet earlier and get this resolved but we can’t until the state does its business and we want to do it in a way that’s safe, that’s why we’re looking at it in the way we’re looking at it in terms of what date and where we’re going to do it,” Carman said.

Selectman Gordon Andrews asked Carman if he had a preference between holding the meeting between two rooms (to ensure distancing) or outside.  Carman said that due to his struggles with his vision, if the crowd is separated by rooms or great distances, he will need some expert spotters to ensure that no one attending feels disenfranchised. He said he is happy with whatever solution proves safest while still allowing people to feel that they are an active part of the process. Selectman Tom Millias said the problem with outside is the potential for inclement weather.

Viveiros said he spoke to Director of Building Maintenance Scott Materna and head custodian Matthew Durkee regarding concerns over the safety of the spray used during fogging, with particular regard for the schools.

He said they never heard back from the manufacturer, but the distributor said that educational and school settings do constitute a recommended use. The distributor also said it is safe after it is either dried or wiped off.

Viveiros said that it would be very difficult to implement the U.V. light method of disinfecting which had been proposed as a possible alternative. Andrews, who is part of the school reopening committee, said they had received a letter from the unions asking all sorts of questions about the reopening. He said that he would likely come back to the Board with more questions regarding the issue after the reopening committee’s first meeting.

Andrews asked the chiefs and Board if they had any issues that they would like him to address with the reopening committee and also asked if they had a preference regarding the reopening of schools. I understand the urge to reopen schools in the sense of educationally, it’s probably the best thing for everybody… but the big asterisk and its not any surprise, is you’ve got to do it safely,” Seelig said. Admitting to not having any solutions, he continued, “I don’t want Halifax or Massachusetts in general to end up part of any big slide backward due to the school system.” He pointed to Israel where schools seemed to play a large part in the transmission of the virus. He shared with the Board a sentiment he had heard as well saying, “You can always make up education, but you can’t make up lives.”

Andrews also shared that he was informed the day before that there was a 12-year-old baseball team in Marshfield that was under quarantine due to one of the players testing positive for COVID. “I guess my feelings have changed in the last day or two about whether I’m leaning toward reopening or not,” Andrews said. Viveiros pointed out that the issue is a polarizing one saying that regardless of what decision is made it is probably going to upset at least half the parents.

Selectman Troy Garron asked if there had been any discussion regarding having students tested prior to the start of school as he felt it would make common sense to know we’re you’re starting.

Andrews pointed out that DESE is recommending against temperature checks. Valery said from a public health perspective, he didn’t feel that a full reopening was the right choice.

The Halifax Board of Selectmen held a special meeting on Thursday, July 9 to discuss updates to the town’s COVID-19 response. Selectman Tom Millias began by turning things over to Fire Chief Jason Viveiros. Viveiros said that there was one confirmed case of COVID-19 reported on July 9 and that the infected person was under quarantine. There were no other active cases in Halifax at the time of the meeting. Town Administrator Charlie Seelig said, “It’s the first one in about three weeks so our hope is that this isn’t a sign of things to come, it’s just an aberration.”

Viveiros also addressed some concern over a chemical component of the fog that is used to decontaminate buildings. There was apparently some hesitancy over using the chemical in the schools without further research. Director of Building Maintenance Scott Materna had reached out to the company but didn’t receive a response as they were on vacation.

Asked about personal protective equipment (PPE), Viveiros said, “For the time being, we’re still set pretty well.” He also said an order had been placed for 7,000 masks. Millias asked about the availability of N95 masks and was told that despite there still being a bit of a backlog, there had not been a problem receiving the necessary supply. “I think the panic behind it has subsided,” Millias said. He also said that while N95 masks were appropriate for first responders they wouldn’t be necessary for everyday activities.

Selectman Gordon Andrews inquired about what was done with the town’s supply of KN95 masks. KN95 masks differ from N95 masks in that they are held to foreign rather than U.S. approved standards. Viveiros said that they were instructed to dispose of the KN95 masks. “In theory they could still be used as a face covering but I don’t think they wanted them to get mixed up,” he explained.

Board of Health agent Bob Valery spoke on the threat from both ticks and mosquitos this year. There is expected to be a large increase in the prevalence of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Valery said that EEE is usually seen in three-year cycles and that we are currently in year two. “Given the winter that we had and the summer that we’re having now, it is perfect conditions,” Valery explained. He said that they had been in touch with mosquito control and are monitoring the situation. Both Millias and Valery spoke of how easily commonplace items can become a breeding ground for mosquitos citing wheelbarrows, kiddie pools, and even watering cans as potential sources when allowed to contain standing water.

Valery also touched on the precautions that will be taken at an upcoming horse show in town saying that temperature checks and inspections will take place.

The final order of business was to vote on an outdoor entertainment permit requested by George Latini for July 18. Seelig said that most feedback from residents was in favor of the request, though there was one request to keep the volume down. The Board voted unanimously to approve the permit.

The Halifax Annual and Special Town Meetings scheduled to be held on
Saturday, July 11, 2020 at the Halifax Elementary School starting at 9 a.m. have been recessed until Saturday, August 1, 2020 at the Halifax
Elementary School starting at 9 a.m.

This decision was made by the Town Moderator after consulting with Board of Health Agent Robert Valery and the Board of Selectmen. The Town Moderator is allowed to make this decision under Massachusetts Chapter 53 of the Acts of 2020 due to the public health emergency.  The Town needs more time to work on a plan and choose a location that will allow for safety measures such as social distancing.

In addition, as the State budget has not yet been approved, the Halifax Finance Committee cannot provide final recommendations to the townspeople. Any meeting at the Elementary School will use both the Gym and the Multi-Purpose Room so that there is sufficient room for all attendees while also following the protocols for social distancing. There is a reasonable probability that the Town Meeting will have to be
recessed again, especially if the State budget is not approved early enough in July in order for final budget recommendations to be made.

Under State law, the Town Meeting cannot be recessed for more than 30 days after each new date. The Town Moderator, Board of Health, Finance Committee, and the Board of Selectmen will continue to monitor these issues and provide more information when it is available.