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No good answers at Halifax BOS

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The Halifax Board of Selectmen held their weekly meeting with public safety officials on Wednesday, July 22 to discuss COVID-19 related issues. Much of the meeting was spent discussing the difficulties surrounding reopening of the schools in the fall.

Selectman Gordon Andrews is part of one of the working groups that has been established to brainstorm ideas for reopening the schools. The working groups include teachers, nurses, counselors, etc. Andrews told those assembled that he would like their opinions so that he might take them back to the group.

Andrews said that guidelines regarding distancing on buses allow for only 25 passengers on a 77-person bus or 15 passengers on a 47-person bus. The only exception would be for siblings who could share a seat.

While official feedback from the surveys hadn’t been made available as of the meeting, Andrews said that initial feedback he was hearing was that roughly fifty percent of parents anticipated dropping their children off rather than electing to take the bus.

With only one-third of students potentially being able to be bused to school, there will have to be a significant increase in students that are being dropped off and picked up which could create a bottleneck. Possible suggestions offered at Wednesday’s meeting included changing the location of where the buses drop off and expanding the library parking lot for staff parking to open other areas for parent drop-off.

Board of Health agent Robert Valery met with head custodian Matt Durkee at the Halifax Elementary School to talk about a plan for lunch. “I think it was a good meeting that brought out a lot of good ideas,” Fire Chief Jason Viveiros told the selectmen.

One possibility is to use both the cafeteria and the all-purpose room for lunch. Students would have assigned seats and lunch would likely be brought directly to them. Another possible suggestion was to have someone who sprays sanitizer onto the kids’ hands as they enter the rooms for eating. The plan would be for the first shift of students to eat in one room and the next shift, the other. This would allow for rooms to be disinfected in between shifts.

In addition to transportation and cafeteria plans, those assembled also discussed pros and cons of both COVID testing prior to the start of school and regular temperature checks once school is in session. Viveiros mentioned the invasive nature of the COVID tests, particularly for young children.

Several of those present felt that temperature checks made sense though when to do them and how to ensure privacy were of concern. One suggestion was to check temperatures on the bus though the majority of students would not be able to ride the bus with capacity limited to one-third. Someone suggested doing temperature checks at drop-off while the parents are still present but that would likely complicate an already prolonged process.

Other questions involved how best to handle a situation where a student did produce a high reading. How would that student be removed without an invasion of privacy? Would students that had been in close contact with them also need to be sent home? “There are no good answers to any of this,” Selectman Tom Millias bemoaned.

Perhaps the most difficult question of all was whether schools should even reopen for in person learning. Andrews said that he felt that regardless of whatever decision is made, fifty percent of parents were likely to be unhappy. He said he felt that most people fell into one of two camps – those wishing to return to some sense of normalcy and those concerned with a potential outbreak in the schools.

He admitted to being confused himself saying, “There’s the part of me that says we should go back – we need to deal with it. There’s another part of me that says the logistics are so hard to understand does it make more sense to just plan for remote at this time?”

Valery said he felt that school should begin remotely as it will be difficult, if not impossible, to decipher COVID symptoms in students or teachers from more run of the mill viruses and infections that typically circulate once students are back in school. Both Viveiros and Andrews asked what the protocol would be if a teacher or student tested positive for the virus.

Valery pointed out that decisions would have to wait until test results were received. He also said that steps might depend on the kind and length of contact others had with the infected individual. If that student used the bathroom at some point, the potential for contamination would extend beyond the classroom or bus. “If you have a confirmed case in the school, you should probably be looking at closing down the school for 14 days,” Andrews said.

Andrews told the group that a preschool teacher in his working group pointed out the potential difficulty of trying to teach speech to young children who are not able to see their teachers’ mouths. A stumbling block for remote learning that was also mentioned was that at the time of the first shutdown, both teachers and and students were already familiar with one another. If school were to start remotely, students and teachers will be working with one another without that pre-established connection.

Of reopening, Viveiros said, “I don’t see how all of this could possibly get done.” He went on to say that some states have postponed the opening of schools until October to allow more time to prepare. Millias probably summed it up best saying, “this is just a pure horror show.”

In non-school related news, Valery told the Board that he had been notified that morning of one contact case of COVID in town though it was not confirmed. Valery also updated the Board on some local restaurants plans. Grille 58 planned to open on July 28 with tents setup in a small area outside for outdoor dining. Rodney’s Kitchen also planned to open for outdoor dining.

Plympton votes on school reopening

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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.

Plympton looks to ‘New Normal’

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Chair of the Plympton School Committee Jon Wilhelmsen updated selectmen at their Monday, July 20 meeting on the plan for restarting school in the fall. Wilhelmsen said that the school is required to submit a preliminary plan to the state by July 31 that accounts for all three possible scenarios – in-person, remote, and a hybrid approach. Wilhelmsen told selectmen, “It’s a little bit of a fool’s errand for the first of those.”

Wilhelmsen said even if there is a full return, it would “not be a return to normal; it would be a return to different.” The administration is focusing a lot of their efforts on the remote learning aspect as Wilhelmsen said that it will likely be the backbone of whatever plan is put into place.

Working groups have been established to devise the plan.  According to Wilhelmsen the top two priorities are providing an education that ensures academic growth and balancing safety and risk to keep everyone as safe as possible. Wilhelmsen said that there will likely be an element of choice involved as some families may need to opt for remote schooling due to high-risk family members or other extenuating circumstances. He also said that there likely isn’t the physical space required to have all students back in school while upholding social distancing requirements. Possible advantages for Dennett include the HVAC system that circulates air to individual rooms as opposed to throughout the whole building as well as the smaller student population compared to neighboring towns.

Selectman Christine Joy asked if the school has the technology in place to meet the needs of students and teachers. Wilhelmsen said that CARES Act funds were used to purchase additional chromebooks but said that the administration needs to evaluate the technology available in terms of which platform would best support remote learning.

The Plympton School Committee will be holding meetings throughout the summer to allow the administration to provide updates to the committee. The public is encouraged to attend as the meetings are held virtually. There likely won’t be a clear picture of what the return to school will look like until well into August. Later in the meeting Joy would say that her rave for the week is for “The parents, teachers, school committees, administration, and everybody who’s trying to navigate in these incredibly difficult times… these people are working so hard to come up with a workable solution.”

$18,000 FEMA grant for hazard mitigation

Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy said that Plympton was the recipient of an $18,000 FEMA grant that would enable them to update the town’s hazard mitigation plan. Currently the town doesn’t have its own stand-alone plan but rather a sub section in the regional plan which was created in 2015. The grant would allow for a consultant to walk the town through the project and create the plan. Dennehy said that she had one response to her RFQ from Woods Hole Group for $17,730 to complete the project in its entirety. On Dennehy’s recommendation, the Board awarded the project to them.

Dennehy told the Board that all three lots on Prospect Rd. have now been successfully sold and that as of that morning, the town treasurer was in receipt of those payments. The funds from the sale of the three lots will be put toward the repayment of the bond that was taken out in 2018 to secure the purchase of Two Brooks Preserve. Selectmen Chair Mark Russo said, “Thank God, it’s done… with this we get to now look forward to hopefully retiring the bond that’s due in October.” Russo said that even with the sales and some additional fundraising they will likely still be around $25,000 short. The hope is that the Board and the Finance Committee will allow an amount under $25,000 to be borrowed from the Capital Stabilization Fund. An amount in excess of $25,000 would require a vote at town meeting.

Dennehy also told the Board that the eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) threat for Plympton has been raised to moderate due to a positive mosquito sample having been found in nearby Carver. “Mosquitos don’t know town boundary lines,” Dennehy joked. She continued, “It is something that everybody needs to remain vigilant about.”

Dennehy said that the townhouse was fogged on July 11. She explained that the plan was to fog the building periodically since it is a reimbursable expense. Dennehy said the decision was made to fog the building as it had not been done since April and the building had been open to the public for six weeks. In another update, Dennehy told the Board that after conferring with town counsel, it was established that town employees that fall under wage and personnel are to be reappointed each year with a select few exceptions including the assistant town clerk who is appointed directly by the town clerk.

Russo provided Dennehy and his fellow selectmen with some highlights from the presentation by the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Senator Michael Rodrigues. Russo credited Senator Michael Brady for putting it together. Rodrigues reminded the audience that a consensus revenue forecast is released each year in December or January which is used to inform the state budget. Back in December, the projected revenue was estimated at $31 billion. After reconvening to re-assess due to the pandemic, it is now believed that the state revenue will be $26 billion leaving a $6 billion shortfall. While it may be possible to pull $2 billion of that shortfall from the rainy-day fund, the remaining amount will need to come from cuts, taxes, or borrowing. Rodrigues made note of the types of cuts that were seen during 2009-2010 when the state faced a similar kind of decline. Cuts were seen to education, transportation, energy, the environment, and healthcare for state employees. Wilhelmsen pointed out that the budgets that the school committees voted on couldn’t really take into account any cuts to education. While the Dennett does not rely heavily on state aid, a large portion of the Silver Lake Regional budget is reliant on it. This could mean cuts to programming, etc., at the middle and high school levels.

Rodrigues also said that the main economic evaluators were unemployment which was around 2.9 percent in December/January and 16.9 percent by May.  During the first quarter of 2020, the GDP decreased by 4.8 percent and it is anticipated that by the end of the second quarter that decrease would be over 8 percent. Rodrigues also spoke on the challenges associated with creating a state budget while not knowing the funds that will be available from the federal government.

The Board of Selectmen also voted to appoint Zachary Bowden as a full-time officer in the Police Department to replace another officer who sent in their resignation. They also briefly discussed the possibility of retirement regulations eventually necessitating the search for a new police chief. Dennehy said that Police Chief Matthew Clancy asked that the discussion be tabled until the Board’s August 10 meeting.

North Plympton Cemetery

Selectman John Traynor requested the Board’s permission to work with the owner of the North Plympton Cemetery so that it might be improved. Traynor said that the owner is a woman located in Washington state who is part of a family that has owned the cemetery since the 19th century. Traynor said, “I would like us to be able to take care of it because it is in terrible shape right now.”

Halifax Town Meetings recessed once again

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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.

A socially distant return to the ball field

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Despite significant restrictions on most sports under Governor Baker’s phased reopening plan, baseball and softball are in the unique position of being able to still play games due to their status as moderate contact sports. Both Halifax Youth Baseball and Halifax Youth Softball have moved forward with their summer seasons after having cancelled the spring seasons due to the pandemic.

The Express spoke with the president of both leagues, Pete Barone who has been involved with youth sports in Halifax for more than 24 years.

The boards of both leagues felt that it would be too difficult to ask the youngest players to follow strict safety guidelines so they decided to move forward with those in third through seventh grade playing in the softball league and those in fourth through sixth grade in the baseball league. An instructional baseball session was recently added for third graders on Sunday mornings. Barone was pleased with the level of interest at the instructional level, saying 23 boys had already signed up to play. In addition to the younger players, there is a baseball team known as the Major Team made up of seventh graders who play against Kingston, Marshfield, Duxbury, and Pembroke. Barone said that participation is down by about 10 to 15 percent for baseball but that the numbers for softball have been consistent with past years.

Plympton also has a number of kids participating in both the Halifax baseball and softball leagues. Barone said that the inclusion of the Plympton players and parents makes the program better for everyone. “It works out great. The kids all get to know each other before going to middle school; we have a couple of excellent volunteers and coaches,” he explained.

Barone also serves as president of the South Shore Softball League as well. As a result of his involvement in that league, he said he felt comfortable moving forward with the girls competing against the other towns. Sacrifices do have to be made, however, including the cancellation of the largest girls’ softball tournament in the South Shore known as the Summer Smash which has taken place in August since 2005.

“We have done extensive work in setting up safety guidelines for games and practices, not only for the players, but for families and spectators that come to watch the games,” Barone said. While players are not required to wear masks, all coaches are required to wear them. Barone said that many players elect to wear them to and from the field removing them only while playing. He pointed out the sometimes oppressive heat as a deterrent for wearing them while playing. There are designated areas at each of the complexes telling parents and other spectators where they can sit as well as brightly colored signs that encourage social distancing.

Other safety protocols include limiting the dugout to only three players at a time who are spaced out from one another. Orange dots have also been painted outside the dugout at six-foot intervals indicating to kids where they should stay throughout the duration of the game. The girls have red buckets with their names on them that get carried to one of the dots, turned upside down, and designated as their spot for the game.

Players are not allowed to share equipment and must use separate bats, gloves, and helmets. Barone said that coaches are equipped with disinfectant as well as hand sanitizer. He said they regularly clean the bucket of balls as well as the handles of bats. Players are lined up for a spritz of hand sanitizer at the end of games as well. “The coaches are all getting into a good little rhythm with it,” Barone said of the new guidelines. Barone said he was very proud of the other coaches involved saying it was difficult to implement these new protocols while also coaching. “I’m very proud of what everyone has been doing and God knows these kids need it.”

Without naming names, Barone did say that some of the other towns have not been as organized in their attempts to maintain distancing and disinfecting. He cited issues such as crowding in the dugouts. “You can only concern yourself with our own kids,” Barone explained.

Fall baseball and softball will begin in September and will include some of the younger grades not playing during the summer. Barone said that while he respects the opinion of those caregivers who don’t feel comfortable letting their children play, he hopes to show people how safely everything has been set up and wants to stress the efforts being made by coaches and staff to enforce all safety measures. He said he hopes to be an example to other sports as they eventually begin to allow for participation in some manner.

Student awarded $250 for Meritorious effort

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Georgia Chapman
Special to The Express

Recognized for her hard work and determination, Silver Lake Regional Middle School (SLRMS) 8th grader, Kelley Savoie, of Halifax, was awarded the first annual Silver Lake Regional Middle School P.T.O. Educational Endowment for Meritorious Effort. The endowment’s objective is to encourage and recognize a SLRMS 8th grade student who would not normally be recognized, but who has made meritorious (valiant) effort and has grown as a learner during 8th grade at SLRMS.  Kelley was awarded a $250 endowment she may use to further her education.  She may use it towards an educational summer camp, career and technical training, school supplies, a computer, etc.  Kelley plans to study Early Childhood Education at Silver Lake Regional High School in the fall.

Janice Bracken, one of Kelley’s 8th grade teachers said of Kelley, “Throughout my teaching career, there have been only a handful of students who have stood out to me as being all around student. Kelley is one of them. She is kind, considerate, thoughtful, funny, and always willing to give a helping hand to someone who needs it.

Kelley follows the rules, but not the crowd. She is happy with who she is and who she has become. I have no doubt that she will continue to follow this path and that she will find success in whatever she decides to do going forward. This would mean the world to her if she was chosen for this award.”

Kelley has proven to be a student that the Silver Lake community encouraged and recognized her educational effort. The endowment committee was impressed by her character and hard work as an 8th grade learner. Kelley’s valiant effort was noticed by her teachers and they nominated her for this award. Kelley showed improvement in her overall grades from Quarter 1 to Quarter 3 of the 2019/2020 school year. Despite her learning weaknesses, she went above and beyond what was expected of her, she always put forth her best effort, and did not miss a day of school this academic year.

Additionally, she excelled with the transition to the new distance learning format and never missed an assignment. Kelley displayed school pride by dressing up for every school Spirit Week, participated in the school talent show, and always showed pride in being a Laker. Her self-confidence has flourished since term 1 and as a result, she overcame many obstacles that would have otherwise held her back from achieving personal and academic success.

When creating this endowment, the PTO worked closely with administration and the guidance department.  Together they created the criteria and selection process, making sure confidentiality was kept and an unbiased decision made.  Of the 300 8th graders at SLRMS, 10 were nominated by their teachers this year.

Plans for next school year

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The Halifax School Committee held their close-out meeting for the year on July 1. Principal Kayne Beaudry gave an update on some of the end of school activities. Beaudry said that the pickup of student materials was done by homeroom and social distancing was practiced. “It was super smooth…I can’t thank everyone that chipped in enough,” Beaudry said.

Halifax Elementary also held a graduation that was similar to the senior auto parade. Beaudry said that students received certificates and swag bags. The Halifax Police and Fire departments assisted and Superintendnet Jill Proulx attended. Beaudry said that despite the oppressive heat the event went well.

According to Beaudry, reopening plans have been taking up much of the administration’s time. Despite a growing Facebook page for homeschooling in Halifax, Beaudry said he would be surprised if many parents opted to go that route having previously had the experience of practicing remote learning. As of the summer, the incoming kindergarten class stands at 78 students. Beaudry noted that the exiting sixth grade class was a good size.

Beaudry also went over some of the updates to the student handbook. There was some discussion with the committee about the dress code including comments that it felt “female heavy.” It was also suggested that there be some pandemic guidance given in the dress code. Proulx pointed out that state regulations would override anything in the handbook should the guidance or directives change.

Kindergarten registration was also discussed. Beaudry said that the elementary school principals have formulated a plan anticipating that the schools will be reopening in the fall and that students will be inside the building. Since screenings for incoming kindergarteners were unable to be held in May as is typical, screenings will occur on Thursday, September 3. Placements will be finalized on September 4 and the Kindergarten Open House will be held on Tuesday, September 8. The first day of Kindergarten will be Wednesday, September 9. All dates, etc. are subject to change dependent on guidance from the state.

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch shared with the committee the results from the most recent survey of parents, staff, and students on their experiences and preferences regarding remote learning. Lynch said the response rate was high for both staff and parents with a staff rate of response of 71 percent. Staff consistently responded that they were appreciative of the efforts of famillies. It was also reported that grade level time was highly effective. Lynch said there was a “mixed bag” of responses in terms of the effectiveness of whole class Google Meets though both staff and parents said that small group Google Meets were largely effective.

Both families and staff were also in agreement that they would like to see evaluation of student work go beyond a credit/no credit scenario. The Massachusetts commissioner of elementary and secondary education has already declared that if remote learning is needed again in the upcoming school year, grades will be a part of that.

Lynch also said that there were some communication challenges and that parents didn’t view the posting of assignments as being on par with teachers actively communicating assignmnts. Other concerns included excessive screen time as well as a lack of socialization. Lynch said that improvements for the upcoming year, should they need to incorporate remote learning, will include improved technology for staff as well as training and implementation of K-6 social and emotional learning. “We know that we have to take care of students not just academically, but the whole child,” Lynch explained. Lynch also pointed out that back in March there was an immediate need for high quality remote learning with a day’s notice. If remote learning is needed come the fall, the school will be better equipped to handle it.

Proulx also provided an update on preparations for the coming year. Proulx thanked the town of Halifax for promoting and supporting the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) and technology through the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. “We’ve been trying to purchase things to get ahead… we are doing whatever we can to keep the students as safe as possible,” Proulx said.

In addition to receiving support through the CARES Act, Proulx said they have also applied for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. Proulx said the grant, which would be for $51,000, could be used towards things such as PPE and technology including remote screen casting.

The administration is currently working on three separate plans for the return to school. Those plans include one for an entirely remote scenario, another for full-time re-entry, and a third which would be a hybrid of the two. Proulx said they were told to plan for all three as even if the school year starts one way, the virus could cause a change in course at any time.

Proulx also gave an update on the FY21 budget saying that as of July 1, the one-twelfth budget had been approved. Andrews took a moment to thank Director of Business Services Christine Healy for all of her efforts during the extremely convoluted budget process.

The committee also touched upon concerns over the chemicals used in the fogging and disinfecting process. According to the fire chief, classrooms can be disinfected in thirty minutes. Schmaling expressed concern over the “nasty chemicals” and commented on the tendency of young kids to put things in their mouths and whatnot. “It just makes me very uncomfortable to think about fogging these classrooms every day,” Schmaling said. They also discussed the possibility of utilizing UV technology as a possible alternative for disinfection.

No easy answers to re-opening

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The Plympton School Committee held their close-out meeting on Monday, July 13 though they agreed that given the current climate meetings would need to be held prior to September.

They began with a reorganization which saw both Jon Wilhelmsen and Jason Fraser retain their titles of chair and vice chair respectively. Wilhelmsen will be serving as chair for the sixth year in a row. Mike Antoine was nominated to serve as secretary. Newest member Dan Cadogen was unable to attend his first meeting as part of the committee.

A report of standing committees followed the reorganization. Fraser said that heand Dennett Principal Peter Veneto now have the information necessary to put together an RFQ for installation of the playground. The Negotiations Committee signed a one-year contract with aides though the negotiations with teachers were still ongoing. Union 31 met to discuss COVID and make sure that their orders for PPE and additional chromebooks were made prior to the deadline for the first round of The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Superintendent Jill Proulx wanted to thank the town of Plympton for helping to make those purchases possible.

Fraser began his legislative update by apologizing for what would be a longer than usual report. He called the threats coming out of Washington D.C., specifically from President Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, to cut funding for schools that don’t fully open in the fall “largely rhetoric.” He mentioned that Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley has taken the secretary to task over her lack of a plan to reopen schools. Pressley made news this week for tweeting at DeVos, “you have no plan. Teachers, kids and parents are fearing for their lives… I wouldn’t trust you to care for a house plant let alone my child.”

Fraser also pointed out that the mass state tax deadline was that week and said that the state is hoping to have a budget done by September 1. Fraser said there is talk, however, that there won’t be a budget until after the November elections.

The joint conference between the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS) and the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) in Hyannis has been cancelled due to safety concerns. Fraser asked the committee if they would be in favor of supporting current MASC President Deborah Davis for a second term. “She has done great work there and she has my full endorsement,” Fraser said. The committee voted to lend her their support.

Veneto also provided a principal’s report to the committee saying, “It’s been an interesting couple of months.”  He continued, “We’re trying to attack this whole thing as if we’re all going to be back, but I’m realistic enough to know that that might not be the case.” Veneto said that the three communities worked on a district wide entry plan for kindergarteners. Both Kingston and Halifax are adapting to the model that Plympton has always used that includes holding screenings in the fall rather than the spring. As of right now the plan will be to hold open house for Grades 1-6 on September 1 and screenings for kindergarteners on September 2, 3, and 4. The hope would be to have kindergarten officially start on September 8. The incoming kindergarten class is currently estimated at 42 students, large by Plympton standards. Veneto also said that they are currently reviewing candidates for an open special education position. He said that due to cuts within other districts, there are a lot of great candidates available.

Director of Business Services Christine Healy shared where some of the cost savings from the past fiscal year were found. Transportation, utilities, and substitutes provided savings. Healy said that due to improvements to the building and the closure for the last few months, utilities savings totaled $27,000. After all are totaled, Healy said that $962.91 would be returned to the town from the regular day budget. $78,790 would be returned from special education and $21,199 from out of district vocational.

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch shared the results from the most recent survey on remote learning which will be used to inform the reopening plan. Lynch said that participation was high amongst both staff and families and consistent from the April survey to the June one. Results indicated that staff would like to see more accountability from students, additional professional development, and sharing of best practices. Parents were grateful for the individualization of learning plans for some students as well as the willingness to loan chromebooks. Families cited a lack of socialization, excessive screen time, and regression as concerns.

Pros and cons of various online platforms were also discussed. Wilhelmsen said that he was unsurprised to learn that many people didn’t like using Google Classroom and Google Meets. He said that his preference would be Zoom. Other potential platforms mentioned as alternatives were Loom, Blackboard, and Schoology. Fraser, who worked with Schoology in his teaching position, called it a more “robust and elegant” platform. He shared that he would be in favor of any expenditure incurred from the use of a better online platform.

Proulx told the committee that Plympton qualified for $20,000 from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund. She said the funds received can be used in similar ways to Title I and Title IIA funds. In addition, those funds can be used for technology, training or even PPE.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released a memo on June 25 which said that the Baker Administration would be allocating $200 million dollars toward schools for COVID related expenses. Schools would be eligible to receive up to $225 per student. Proulx said that shortly thereafter, a memo went out to business directors from the Lieutenant Governor saying that Plymouth County would not be receiving these allocations. Proulx said that she had a meeting the following day that she was hopeful would provide further clarification.

Proulx also provided an update on the plan for reopening. Building principals were asked to figure out how many students could fit in a classroom if requiring 3 feet of social distance and then again, for 6 feet of distance. Wilhelmsen inquired about the seemingly arbitrary 3 feet number. Fraser emphasized that there was no scientific basis for the number and called it “convenient.” He said that he would not support the reduced distancing for Plympton. “We need to do what’s right for our town and our kids,” he said.

The DESE Commissioner also requested that schools prepare three separate plans that account for in person learning, remote learning, and some form of a hybrid of the two. The deadline for the plans was also pushed up to July 31. Reopening committees have been formed and consist of a variety of individuals including nurses, counselors, parents, and staff. An intentions survey will also be distributed asking families questions such as if they intend to send their kids to school under the current circumstances and whether they plan to use the bus. Proulx pointed out that distancing requirements severely limit the number of students that can be put on a bus. Another potential issue will be how to handle a large increase in students being dropped off at school.

Wilhelmsen stressed the importance of thinking of the staff and their safety when developing a reopening plan. Fraser said that while he was not against reopening, he was for choice for both students and teachers. Proulx said that she and Lynch had discussed the option of giving families a choice and whether they had the means to meet the demands presented by choice.

“School will not look the same and parents need to understand that,” Fraser said. “There are lots of consequences to this crisis unfortunately,” Proulx agreed.  She continued, “Whatever our decisions are there is going to be a give and take… there are no simple answers to this unfortunately.” Proulx and Lynch both stressed that they are open to and welcome any and all suggestions and ideas regarding reopening.

Proulx thanked Megan Ahrenholz for putting together the summer lunch program. She also asked the committee to vote to accept an anonymous donation of $584.50 to pay off lunch debt,

Halifax BOS tackles COVID and EEE

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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.

Pandemic challenges Soule Farm

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Michelle Smith
Special to The Express

The summer of 2020 has been challenging on many levels. During this time of pandemic uncertainty, The Soule Homestead, located at 46 Soule Street in Middleboro right on the Plympton line, is a grounding, beautiful working farm with trails, farm animals, community gardens as well as commercial farmers.

The farm is open to the public for free from sunrise to sunset. There is one public restroom which is cleaned daily.  Oftentimes,  Executive Director Megan Connolly Riley, “Miss Meg”, and Education Director Katie Roberts, “Miss Katie”,  are around to answer questions about the trails or point you in the direction of the many farm animals including two calves, two goats, a rabbit, several sheep, lambs, chickens, ducks and pigs. You can also see farmers working the fields.

Many people in the area have attended their annual Sheep Day in the spring as well as the Harvest Fair and Joe Davie’s Folk Festival every September.

According to Meg,  “the overarching goal is to keep open and keep people safe.”   Even though the Soule Homestead’s programming looks different in 2020, they continue to be a vibrant member of the community.  For example, Plato’s Harvest and Bay End Farm, a vegetable farm that leases land, sold out of CSA shares.  Due to increased demand, Plympton based Revival Farm pork farmers, was able to lease a field.  Last weekend, there was a virtual concert by Abby Vail.

In response to no summer camp, Soule Homestead is offering farm tours for families and friends. More information about the tours is available on the Soule Farm website and/or Facebook page.

The annual Farm to Table fundraiser will be a deliver and or pick up event to be decided. The Farm to Table fundraiser highlights the food grown on site prepared in exciting and unique ways by local chefs who are involved with the farm.

Two  years ago, Soule Homestead built a commercial  kitchen that is rented out to local businesses. The fate of the Harvest Fair has not been decided but will most likely be re-structured  in response to pandemic restrictions. The farm continues to host craft classes such as wool spinning and rug braiding.

Despite the many challenges, friends and members of the community have been generous to the non-profit. Sheep Day was a virtual event and for a price, Miss Meg offered to have the sheep shearer cut off all her hair. She raised over $10,000. Many families elected to donate their summer camp deposit to the farm. A volunteer organized a plant sale raising $400.

The Soule Homestead Education Center has been an essential member of the local community since 1987. The land has been in use since the 1600’s when George Soule, a pilgrim, bought the land from the Wampanoags. In 1983, the town of Middleboro purchased the farm. At the time, the homestead was in danger of being bought by developers.

The non-profit Soule Homestead Education Center was founded  four years later in order to restore the farm and, according to their website, “develop it into an agro-ecology  education center.”  The homestead is part of the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program. Middleboro received money from the state to buy the development rights so it will be preserved forever.

Although summer looks different at the farm, it remains open to the public, providing a refuge from the day to day stressors and isolation during these challenging times. Check out their website http://www.soulehomestead.com/ for COVID-19 regulations as well as membership opportunities and upcoming programs.

The office hours vary; call 508-947- 6744 for details.