The Perfect Storm: Navigating the COVID Surge in Boston Public Schools

The Perfect Storm: Navigating the COVID Surge in Boston Public Schools

As children, teachers, and staff returned from the long winter break, it felt like the perfect storm was brewing. I'm a mom to a 3rd-grade boy who attends Boston Public Schools five days a week, and he, like many others, lives with a number of health impairments. We've all been in this COVID-19 pandemic for two years now, desperately hoping for that rainbow at the end of the tunnel.

Honestly, as a parent, I believe extensive planning should have happened before the break to get a handle on the inevitable surge. Instead, the ball was dropped, leaving parents, students, and teachers scrambling. There was no clear guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) or even our Governor.

A System Under Strain: The Omicron Wave

Last week alone, we saw over 1,000 BPS students and more than 300 staff newly diagnosed with COVID. In my opinion, that's one child, one teacher, and one staffer too many. The Omicron variant, a relentless "sister virus," took the world by surprise, infecting people faster than its predecessors. There's a widespread outcry for help, and on January 14, 2022, BPS students bravely organized a city-wide walkout to protest the safety issues in our schools. As a parent, I applaud their courage and admiration for standing up and using their voices.

Unanswered Questions and Urgent Demands

Currently, we have zero communication regarding pool testing results. We also strongly advocate for remote learning to be an option for those who don't feel safe in the building. Yet, DESE seems intent on making changes that will only add to the already heavy burden on BPS families, teachers, and staff. They want to opt out of the existing "Test and Stay" method in favor of a "Test at Home" approach.

I have so many unanswered questions about this new approach:

  • How will parents report negative or positive cases accurately?
  • What is the new isolation rule for close contacts – 10 days? 5 days? Nobody seems to know, and we demand transparency within these systems.

We are not going to stand by and put our children, teachers, and staff at further risk. Yes, I understand the critical need for children to be in school. But right now, can't we meet in the middle to discuss potential options? What about a hybrid model, like attending school three days a week and learning remotely for two, until this surge has passed?

Essential Support and Solutions

We desperately need support for families and emotional support for our children at school. The time is now to fix these flawed systems. We need adequate ventilation and filtration systems in every cafeteria, where students gather for breakfast and lunch. And for those students (like my son, who missed 10 days in September 2021 due to close contact) who have missed more than 18 days of school, they should not be penalized.

I know this has been a long and emotionally draining period for all of us. A child should never have to doubt whether to choose their health or their education. We need flexible plans for this moment and for any future surges. What we truly need from DESE and BPS is a stronger voice for our students and teachers, one that champions real solutions and ideas: proper masking protocols, improved ventilation, robust pool testing, and a clear model to transition to remote or hybrid learning when necessary. This is the generation that needs us most. We cannot stand by and do nothing.

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