Superintendent's Weekly Memo - December 30

Dec 31 2022 1:31 PM

Dr. Marice Edouard-Vincent, Superintendent

December 30, 2022

Please click here for a formatted copy of this weekly memo in Google Docs.

Dear Medford Public Schools Community:

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy New Year 2023! As the holiday break comes to an end and school resumes on Tuesday, January 3, there are several key updates that I would like to bring to your attention. However, the most important message is the safe reopening of Medford High School (MHS) and the important changes that will take place. The recent incidents at MHS are deeply troubling, and we have heard the concerns of many in the community demanding immediate changes. Over the past few days, the Mayor, Chief of Police, and the City’s communication director have been providing suggestions, lending support, and sharing concerns to help us inform a comprehensive set of action steps to ensure the safety of all students and adults at MHS. We begin the new calendar year with a renewed sense of determination to address these issues head-on, and we are confident that the short-and long-term steps we are putting in place will begin to transform the culture and climate of MHS.

Today’s memo includes:

MHS Reopening for January 3, 2023
COVID-19 At-home test kits
Hiring New Staff

MHS Reopening for January 3, 2023

First and foremost, we have instituted several important changes to the daily operations of the high school that will take effect immediately when students return on Tuesday. It is critical that every MHS student, parent, caregiver, and staff member knows and understands these changes, including:

A bathroom opening schedule has been created and will be posted throughout the school. Most bathrooms will be closed before and after school.
An adult will monitor every open bathroom.
No more than two students will be permitted into any bathroom at a time.
The process will begin for all students and staff to display IDs at all times. We anticipate all student and staff IDs and lanyards will be delivered to students by January 17th. We will continue to communicate about this effort.
Every student must eat lunch in the cafeteria, unless they have a support plan indicating otherwise.
No student may leave campus during lunch or at any other point during the school day.
Students must now have physical hall passes and be registered through E-Hall Pass to be out of class.

These and other changes in procedures are outlined in greater detail in a comprehensive document that will be sent to Medford High School parents, caregivers, faculty and students Monday, January 2, 2023. Please be sure to read this document and ensure that your student has read this document prior to the reopening of school on Tuesday. In addition, we have scheduled mandatory meetings and optional listening sessions for students and staff on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week to review these changes and answer any questions.

These changes in school operations are the first of several important action steps. Next week, I will present to all families and staff, as well as the broader community, a more detailed action plan that outlines our immediate and longer-term strategies to improve the culture and climate at MHS. Please stay tuned for that important announcement next week.

COVID-19 At-home test kits

There has been a slight uptick in COVID-19 during this holiday break, therefore our continued vigilance as a school community will help to keep our entire community safe. Please administer the COVID-19 At-home tests to your student on Monday evening, prior to returning to school on Tuesday to minimize any lingering spread of the virus. The original expiration dates of the testing kits have been extended, a list of updated expiration dates can be found here. If your family requires additional at-home COVID-19 tests, please contact your students' school nursing team.

As COVID-19, influenza, and other winter illnesses linger after the holiday season, we continue to remind families that masking, although not mandatory, is highly recommended to stop the spread.

Hiring Paraprofessionals, Substitutes, Before and After Care Staff, and Building Monitors

The Medford Public Schools has vacancies for a number of positions. We are actively seeking candidates to apply for positions within our schools. We are also seeking additional building monitors. Please click here for our current postings.

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