We believe that a combination of facility safety upgrades, personal protective equipment (PPE), physical/social distancing, regular (weekly) COVID testing, and the introduction of a vaccine will be exactly what it is needed to confidently return to school.
Masks/Face Coverings
Masks/Face Coverings are among the most important single measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. Masks must cover both the nose and mouth. The District will provide personal protective equipment (“PPE”) to all staff. This will include reusable masks for all employees. Parents are responsible for providing students with face coverings or masks. Schools will have backup disposable masks available for students who need them. Staff may choose to wear their own mask or one provided by the school. Masks must be worn by everyone at all times with rare exceptions. Families must ensure their child arrives at school wearing a face covering and ideally has an extra on hand. Time will be built throughout the day for mask breaks where students and staff don’t have to wear masks.
COVID-19 Pooled Testing for Students
I am pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has confirmed that they have approved Framingham’s Pooled Testing application. The District submitted more detailed information to the DESE this week, as requested, and we expect to be receiving notification early next week about the testing vendor that will be assigned to work with our district.
All students returning to in-person learning will be asked to submit consent forms to participate in Pooled Testing. This is provided and recommended by the state. These tests combine respiratory samples from several students and then conduct one laboratory test on the combined pool of samples to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. If a pooled test result is negative, then all individuals within that pool are presumed negative and may remain in school. If a pooled test result is positive, then all individuals in the pool must be retested individually.
COVID-19 PCR Testing for ALL FPS Staff
Testing has proven to be a key factor to getting students back to school in communities where percentages of positivity and daily new COVID cases are higher than recommended community targets. The District expanded its offering of COVID-19 PCR testing to ALL FPS staff who will now be working in the schools starting Monday, February 1, 2021.
COVID-19 PCR Testing for Phase I and Phase II Returning Students
We are extending COVID-19 PCR testing to all students returning in Phases I and II. Consent information will be provided to families of Phase I & Phase II students in the coming days. PCR testing for students will shift to pooled testing once that is rolled out with the return of students in Phases III & IV. Testing of students in school will prove to be a much more reliable indicator than relying solely upon community health metrics.
Attestation App
The Framingham Public Schools have adopted MyMedBot App in order to allow all staff and families the ability to engage in a daily attestation of health with regard to COVID symptoms. Students, families and staff will answer a series of COVID-19 related questions each school day via the mobile app (accessible on both mobile phones and computers).
Vaccination
As a school district, we do not control vaccines or their distribution in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The FPS COVID Team has been working with the City’s Department of Public Health and neighboring school communities to offer a regional clinic for educators in February or as soon as the vaccine becomes available. We support and encourage the Commonwealth to prioritize staff, including bus drivers, and we strongly encourage all staff to receive the vaccine.
