McCann Students Return to Classrooms
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — McCann Technical School students have returned to full in-person education.
McCann Principal Justin Kratzl told the School Committee on Thursday that students were slated to make their full return Monday, May 17, according the state orders to reopen classrooms.
"We definitely are excited to have the kids back; it will be good to have the place bustling again," Kratz said. "It has been a ton of work to get up and ready but it has been a team effort. We have a lot of of people rowing in the same direction."
McCann stayed largely in a hybrid education model throughout the last few months of the pandemic. Students went to school for their shops but much of their regular education was done virtually.
Kratz said the school will utilize a cohort model and students will stay in their classroom and the teachers will move from room to room to prevent COVID-19 transmission.
Mask wearing will be required and students will be spaced out 3 feet.
There will be mask breaks and an extra lunch was added to accommodate the fewer number of kids allowed to eat in the cafeteria.
Chairman Gary Rivers thanked the school leadership for its thorough reopening plan.
"It was very complete and efficient," he said. "Very specific."
The principal added that spring sports have also begun.
"It is powerful seeing kids out on the field ... they were just happy to be out there playing catch and throwing a ball to a teammate instead of off the garage," Kratz said.
Also, Kratz said students did compete in SkillsUSA and Business Professionals of America, however, he did not have the results yet.
"We still haven't collected the data, but I am told our kids did well," he said.
He said much of the competition was virtual.
In other business, Kratz said graduation is scheduled for June 2 and will be held outside on the soccer field.
The rain date is June 3. There will be no class night.
The School Committee awarded a $140,000 bid to Sommer Electric to conduct the electrical work for the to-be-installed floodlights on the football field.
"The poles and equipment are here and next week they will begin drilling holes to get this project moving,"
The committee also approved a $67,230 bid to make repairs to the front entrance of the school.
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