By CHRIS COLLINS
Franklincountynow.com Staff Writer
(GREENFIELD, MA) — Greenfield Public Schools are preparing to institute a “remote learning” plan for students.
Greenfield School Committee Chair Amy Proietti says the committee Tuesday night voted initial approval of the plan, which has been in the works since March 23.
“The superintendent and our educators have been working around the clock on this since the day the commonwealth asked districts to develop such plans,” Proietti said. “The general consensus among the committee is that it is comprehensive and it hits the mark for what is a daunting task for any district.”
Proietti said the curriculum is being developed consistent with guidelines from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Read those recommendations here commofmassremotelearningcriteria
Proietti said the committee has also voted to approve a plan to continue paying teachers and para-professionals during the pandemic, and said food service workers in the district are being paid time-and-a-half as they continue to push out an average of around 500 meals a day for students who otherwise might go hungry.
“I can’t say enough about the work these people are doing,” Proietti said. “They are truly on the front lines of this pandemic, and we appreciate all of their efforts.”
Proietti refused to speculate on whether Greenfield students will return to the classroom this year, but did say there are discussions at the state level about the potential for extending remote learning through the last day of school, which in Greenfield’s case, is June 11.