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ASHLAND – The David Mindess School will convert to remote learning tomorrow, Friday, December 11, announced the Ashland Superintendent of Schools today, December 10.
“While the School Committee voted to start remote learning next Monday, there has been significant COVID impact today on staffing that necessitates an immediate move to remote learning,” said Superintendent Jim Adams to families in an email.
“I have received a number of emails over the past few days asking: Why are we making the decision to move to remote learning now for the District? What data do we have that supports such a move? And there are some who think I and our team are not being transparent with the process. Every Friday morning we have a School Committee meeting where the data is discussed at length,” said Adams.
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“However, in the spirit of sharing some data from the past 4 days at Mindess, as of this afternoon we will be quarantining or have quarantined twenty-one (21) staff members including the entire administration. Of these educators three (3) have already tested positive for COVID and the rest will be tested and/or are awaiting results. One may ask how is this possible? What are the adults doing? Are they following protocols? I can tell the community without question this outbreak at Mindess is a direct result of transmission from students to adults,” wrote Adams.
“Mindess like other buildings in the District and state wide are clearly at or near the tipping point with regard to community outbreaks. I hope that this message again is a sober reminder that the virus is spreading at an alarming rate and we as a community must do better,” wrote Adams.
“All close contacts at this point have been identified and will be contacted by our nursing staff or Sergeant Burman of the APD/Ashland COVID Task Force. I apologize for what I know is a major inconvenience to parents, staff, and students, but the personal health and well-being of faculty, staff, and our students must take priority. In addition we will not have sufficient staff to teach our students in-person,” concluded Adams.
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