Gill-Montague School Committee Votes 7-1 to Adopt Phased Campus Reopening Plan

GILL -- September 29, 2020, Gill-Montague School Committee authorizes phased campus return, contingent on HVAC repairs. The committee voted 7-1 at a September 29 special meeting to adopt a reopening timeline proposed by Superintendent Brian Phelps, giving him authority to implement each phase without returning for additional votes. Under the plan, all staff and a small cohort of priority students, including life skills, transition, and resource populations, would return October 20 to rooms already confirmed to meet the ASHRAE two-air-exchanges-per-hour standard; a broader hybrid model could begin as early as October 26 if contractor Jamrog certifies remaining buildings. Business Administrator Joanne Bleyer reported the district has secured up to $175,000 in CARES Act funds from Montague's Select Board and approximately $22,000 from Erving, with Gill's contribution pending a Select Board vote October 13. The district has already purchased just over $80,000 in air purifiers and scrubbers. The sole no vote came from committee member Jennifer, who cited unresolved questions about student safety during mask-off lunch periods.