Published March 25, 2021

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING —Barring any unforeseen circumstances in the next six days, the town’s elementary school students will return to full day in-person learning next Wednesday, March 31.

The directive of the North Reading Public Schools applies to students in pre-kindergarten through grade 5. Students in Pre-K to grade 1 have been in school four and one-half days per week since September, so this change will affect students and staff in grades two through five the most.

Two weeks later, all students attending North Reading Middle School and High School (grades 6-12) will begin their full-day in-person learning on Wednesday, April 14.

The changes were announced by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Daly Tuesday morning following Monday night’s School Committee meeting.

He was pleased with the 95 percent return rate on the district-wide return to school electronic survey.

The School Committee and district administrators have been developing the reopening plan since DESE Commissioner Jeff Riley announced in February that elementary students must return to school in-person by April 5 and secondary students by April 28 state-wide.

“Thank you to everyone who completed the return to in-person learning survey last week. With 95% of all student selections reported we will be able to promptly make any changes to elementary assignments for those opting for Cohort D (full remote) and will hope to communicate this information out later this week or early next week,” Daly stated in his memo to parents and guardians and posted to his blog on the district’s website.

“Our plan is to make the least disruptive decisions and to accommodate as many students as possible with these grade-level placements,” he stated, adding, “Additional details and communication will be forthcoming from each school along with updates and specific information about the processes for the return to in-person learning for that school.”

Schools will also be releasing updated information on the school buses for those students who ride the bus.