School employees are busy making the final preparations for most students’ part-time in-person return on Monday, reported Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Shaver-Hood at Thursday night’s School Committee meeting.

Students whose families chose the “hybrid” model will begin attending two four-hour in-person days at the schools next week, either on Monday and Tuesday or on Thursday and Friday. The schools will be deep cleaned each Wednesday. 

The schools have all been deep-cleaned, and HVAC repairs are completed. Every classroom and office recently passed air quality tests.

Most of the furniture in the schools has been removed from classrooms, leaving only desks and chairs for students and the teacher. Shaver-Hood said that the removed furniture filled the storage units at the high school and at Decas, as well as most of the high school cafeteria. Even more furniture is being stored in the old Tremont Nail Factory and at the old East Wareham school.

She noted that the school district is loaning out desks for the school year to families who don’t have a good study spot for their child. Those interested in borrowing a desk should reach out to their principal. 

All school buildings have been decked out with plentiful hand sanitizer dispensers and stickers directing traffic through the hallways. 

The school district will be providing each employee and student with a reusable fabric mask emblazoned with the Viking logo.

Every student is required to wear a mask the entire time they are on the school bus or at school, with the exception of mask breaks.

Shaver-Hood said that the schools will have extra disposable masks on hand in case students forget. She added that the schools have a good supply of PPE. 

“Certainly, I cannot say enough about the hard work that everybody’s put in to get us to this place,” Shaver-Hood said. “This has not been easy for anyone. We certainly appreciate their patience and collaboration as we try to make the best of this situation.”

Shaver-Hood added that the district hopes to extend the length of the in-person days as it is safe to do so.