BOSTON (WHDH) - The City of Boston welcomed back some of its youngest students to the classroom Monday.
Students in preschool through third grade returned to in-person learning through a hybrid model, with Group A going into school for two days a week beginning Monday and Group B set to go into school for two days a week starting Thursday.
“I’m not going to rush our kids back into school but also don’t want to see our kids out of school for the entire school year, so this process is a safe process and we’re going to continue to move forward with our reopening,” Mayor Martin Walsh said.
The return to the classroom is welcomed news for many parents who made big adjustments when schools went fully remote.
“I had to take a leave of absence because of my husband going to work and the three of them home from school,” said parent Lyndsay Picciano. “It was just total chaos.”
Every student in the district will continue to learn remotely on Wednesdays so schools can be cleaned and sanitized between groups.
All schools are getting air purifiers and frequent air quality testing, top-grade filters in all HVAC systems, medical-grade personal protective equipment for staff, and disposable masks for students and staff.
Boston Teachers Union President Jessica Tang says she is pleased with the precautions the city is taking but wishes the state would give teachers a higher priority to get vaccinated.
“It does I think cause a lot of concern still for educators and the fact that we could have vaccinations for educators but the state has chosen not to is problematic,” she said.
Boston Public Schools students in grades fourth through eighth are set to return to the classroom in two weeks, while high schoolers are expected to return at the end of the month.
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