NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — City schools will continue in remote learning at least until Monday, Feb. 8, based on the local COVID-19 data. 

 

The school system had voted before Christmas to revert to remote for two weeks in anticipation of high levels of transmission of the novel coronavirus because of the holidays. There was a surge in cases and the average positive test rate has been above the benchmark of 3 percent agreed upon with the teachers union. 

 

School buildings were expected to open on Jan. 19 but that was extended to Jan. 29 and now to Friday, Feb. 5, when the decision will again be made whether to reopen. 

 

"The number of positive cases statewide and locally has decreased substantially in the past week. However, the data, while promising, is not below one of the thresholds necessary to return to school in the hybrid model for next week," said Superintendent Barbara Malkas in letter posted to parents and the school district website.

 

North Adams has seen its positive test rate drop by more than half, to an average of 2.04 percent over 14 days as of Thursday's public health report. However, the school district also takes into account the test rates for 15 surrounding communities where students, staff and faculty reside. The average of all of these communities is 3.63 percent. 

 

This higher positive rate has triggered the extension of remote learning into next week, said Malkas. 

 

The school system has been using a hybrid learning structure since returning to school last fall. Grades are divided into A and B cohorts, with each having two days for in-class and for remote learning, with Wednesdays fully remote for extra cleaning of buildings. North Adams schools have not seen any significant outbreak but some classrooms reverted to remote for two-week periods because potential exposures during the fall. 

 

North Adams has applied to participate in the "pooled" testing being piloted by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The program would involve mixing batches of samples together for a single test. This uses less equipment and material and is useful in testing groups of people. 

 

The School Committee will be given a presentation on this procedure at Tuesday's meeting and parents/guardians will be provided with consent forms and explanation letters next week.