The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of June 25 to July 2, 2020

Massachusetts Releases First Guidelines for School Re-opening in Fall, 2020


On Thursday, June 25, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released a 28-page document outlining guidelines for schools to open in the fall.

The guidelines recommend that all adults, and students in Grade 2 and above, wear face masks. "Mask breaks should occur throughout the day," the report advises, "when students can be six feet apart and ideally outside or at least with the windows open." Masks should be provided by the students or their families, and should be warn at all times on school transportation such as buses.

Desks, seats and activities should be arranged to maintain a minimum distance of three feet between students, ideally six feet or more when feasible, at all times.

Elementary school students should be kept in one group throughout the school day, while middle and high schools should minimize mixing student groups as much as possible.

Families are asked to screen students each morning and keep any students with symptoms home. Schools will not screen students at the door, but should be alert for any signs of symptoms in students during the school day. Temperature checks are not recommended due to the high likelihood of false positives.

"Hand hygiene" with frequent hand washing with soap, and/or hand sanitizers, is recommended.

In addition to preventive measures, all school systems are asked to develop three learning plans for the fall:

  • In-person learning with safety protocols
  • Hybrid learning which combines in-person learning for some students with remote learning options for others (possibly all students would alternate between the two to minimize the number of students inside school buildings at any one time)
  • Remote learning for any students who, for safety reasons, can't return to school, or for all students if the situation doesn't allow schools to re-open.
The full report may be read here.

Large Attendance at Online School Committee Meeting to Discuss Budget and Staff Cuts


Nearly 60 guests, including parents and teachers, logged into the June 18 meeting of the Winchendon School Committee to hear updates and make comments in the wake of severe staff cuts for the coming school year. As the Courier reported last week, 32 first and second year teachers and six specialist teachers were informed that contracts would not be renewed, while 38 para-educators were laid off under a measure called Reduction in Force (RIF).

At the beginning of the meeting, several of the staff members whose positions had been cut offered statements about what they did and the importance of their roles to Winchendon's students.

Beth Sibik, who has been a PE teacher for the Winchendon Schools for twelve years, read a statement supporting PE programs in the schools, pointing out that modern PE classes have a far wider scope and depth than the old style gym class many adults remember from their own school days. Nicole Elias, who has taught art at Murdock High School for two years and has just been appointed to the Winchendon Cultural Council, spoke about the importance of art education to students, including students with special needs. Samuel Vendt, who has been the elementary music teacher for the Winchendon Schools for the last seven years, described the importance of a strong music program both for the students themselves, and as a factor in attracting families to a school system. Kelly Williams, a para-educator at Memorial School, talked about the work para-educators do in supporting teachers, and students who need personalized attention and extra assistance in the classroom to flourish.

Several parents voiced concerns about the specific needs of their children, wondering how IEPs, special education and individualized study could be managed under the restrictions being forecast for opening the schools in the fall, while at the same time drastic cuts in staff have been made.

Winchendon Schools Superintendant Joan Landers spoke at length explaining the dilemma faced by the schools. "Last week, as you know, I had to make a tough decision with the budget," she said. "I was asked, because of the unknowns with the state [and] federal revenue, that we prepare for the worst case scenario, with a potential of losing twenty percent in state revenue and fifteen percent in local contributions. As I said, that was about 1.3 million...We need guidance, and we need the state and federal government to step in for the children of Winchendon."

Ms. Landers explained that decisions about the first and second year teachers had to be made before June 15, because after that their contracts would automatically renew. She said that guidance from the state is expected in a few weeks, but if the state did not come up with funding and no cuts had been made, the community would be asked to make up the shortfall, at a time when this would be very difficult for people in Winchendon. "Hopefully we'll receive some relief," Ms. Landers said. "This has been devastating for everyone who works for us."

"I actually wish I'd retired two years ago so I'd never have to see this," Ms. Landers said, saying that watching the impact on the school community was "heartbreaking." She went on, "The outpouring of help during this pandemic, from this community, and especially our educators, how they were feeding our children, volunteering, providing education, endless hours, is just outstanding. And to have that, and then have to experience this, is extremely difficult."

Ms. Landers promised that the schools will find ways to work with IEPs and other specific needs of students, and this was the reason for forming focus groups to plan for re-opening the schools in the fall. "I hope that we will know more in July, and we can move forward, but it might be later in the summer." She encouraged all concerned persons to contact their state legislators to stress how devastating this situation is for Winchendon, and to volunteer for focus groups.

Numerous parents discussed the shortcomings of online learning for special needs students, and for families who lack access to an Internet connection. Problems with getting hard copy of materials were mentioned. Ashley, parent of a third grade student at Toy Town Elementary summarized the problems of the last three months of online learning succinctly. She said, "One of the problems that we face as parents I think, is that from the leadership level, not all teachers were doing things in any type of uniform way. So, you have one teacher that's doing Google Classroom, one class that's doing Zoom meetings, one class that's doing all the work that's been sent to them, some teachers that don't know how to get on Zoom meetings, some teachers that don't know how to use Google classroom. There's been no training for any of your staff to actually be able to do things uniform, so that parents and kids can continues to work together and be able to get the job done."

Several speakers urged all concerned persons to contact Senators in other states as well as Massachusetts, urging them to press for the Senate to take up and pass the HEROES Act, which will provide support for state budgets as well as individuals and businesses.

Sarah McQuiston of Winchendon Named to Spring 2020 President's List at Dean College

FRANKLIN, MA (06/24/2020)-- Dean College is pleased to announce that Sarah McQuiston of Winchendon has earned a place on the President's List for the Spring 2020 semester. Students earning a place on the President's List have demonstrated a serious commitment to their stuides while at Dean College.

Founded in 1865, Dean College is a private, residential college located in Franklin Massachusetts, 45 minutes from Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island. Dean College offers baccalaureate degrees, associate degree programs, as well as a robust schedule of part-time continuing and professional education credit and certificate programs throughout the calendar year.

Local Residents Receive Degrees from Worcester Polytechnic Institute

WORCESTER, MA (06/25/2020)-- Late this spring, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) celebrated the Class of 2020 with a socially distanced commencement season in place of its traditional 152nd Commencement exercises.

Joseph LeBlanc of Winchendon, Mass., was awarded a bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering with distinction.

Lindsey Hamlett of Athol, Mass., was awarded a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering with distinction.

Zachary Bergquist of Athol, Mass., was awarded a bachelor of science degree in electrical and computer engineering with distinction.

Since the Class of 2020 was unable to receive diplomas in person this year, they instead received personal commencement packages, mailed to their home, that that included their diplomas, commencement regalia, and other items to celebrate their successes, as well as a congratulatory video message from President Laurie Leshin. In total, WPI awarded 1,043 bachelor's degrees, 674 master's degrees, and 54 doctoral degrees.

In her video message, Leshin made the traditional Commencement walk to the WPI's iconic Earle Bridge, which students walk over during New Student Orientation and then again when they graduate. She then stopped, turned, and told graduates, "You should be here. But make no mistake: Today is still your day. You've walked this bridge together once, and you will walk it again. I can't wait to see you do just that. Until then, it's my honor to wait for you."

WPI plans to hold in-person undergraduate and graduate Commencement ceremonies in the future, at a date to be announced.