The school year will begin for students on Sept. 1, and once again we must address COVID-19 safety protocols. Hopes were high when students waved goodbye to their teachers back in June for a normal 2021-22 school year. But, alas, the dreaded variant and the fact that 400-plus students are too young for the vaccine brought safety guidelines to the forefront again. The silver lining in all of this is that as a community we know how to increase safety and we are moving ahead with full days of school, five days a week for all students. Also, approximately 91% of our students 12 to 18 years old are vaccinated.
Because it is one of our most reliable mitigation efforts, students, staff, faculty, and visitors will wear masks indoors at both schools, regardless of their vaccination status, until at least Oct. 1. Any change in this guideline will be linked to high vaccination rates in the schools, testing participation, and low incidence of COVID-19. Weekly testing will keep us informed about the occurrence of the virus in our school population.
The first COVID-19 Safe Schools testing event occurred earlier this week with a drive-up program on Wednesday, Aug. 25. For the first time, family members of any age will be included in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. The hope is to isolate any positive cases before students return to their classrooms. The more people who participate in the testing, the safer we keep the community, as we are all in this together.
Harvard has been fortunate to continue to have low incidence of COVID-19. Many people have contributed to this success in the schools including our nursing staff, the School Committee members, our partners in the COVID-Safe Schools testing program, the library trustees (for the tent permissions), teachers, staff, administrators, parents, and students. Students continue to demonstrate understanding and cooperation despite the impact on their school experience. They deserve all that we can do to focus on their health and well-being during this ongoing pandemic despite our disappointments.
Linda Dwight is superintendent of Harvard Public Schools
