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.