Gill School Committee Unanimously Votes to Delay Fall School Start 10 Days

GILL -- July 28, 2020, Gill School Committee delays student start of school by 10 days, to approximately September 10. The committee voted unanimously at its July 28 meeting to push back the 2020-21 school year opening, freeing time for staff training on hybrid and remote learning technology, with the last day of school now set to June 11. Superintendent Brian Beck reported a parent survey of 482 respondents showed 52.4 percent intend to send children back in person, 36.5 percent are undecided, and 11 percent said no; 27.4 percent of households include someone with a pre-existing health condition. The board also approved two accounts payable warrants totaling roughly $409,000 and heard its first public Zoom comment session, during which residents cited children with asthma, allergies, and medical fragility as reasons to oppose in-person return. A grant secured in a single day by business office staff will fund a no-cost in-person summer literacy and math program for 16 at-risk students running July 29 through August 13.