Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said she is avoiding a switch to remote learning amid the coronavirus surge "at all costs," and that she continues to assess situations school by school. Though the superintendent does not want to return to remote education, she told Jim Braude on Greater Boston that the state should give more flexibility when it comes to the required 180 days of in-person schooling.
Gov. Charlie Baker and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley haven't budged on their stance to keep kids in school, even as COVID-19 cases have soared to record levels in Massachusetts.
"It's good to keep the pressure on for us to be in person, but I do believe that we should have some flexibility. ... I think he [Baker] could build a lot of good will with school superintendents if he gave us a little more flexibility," Cassellius said. She noted that last year, only 170 days of learning were required, which allowed for 10 flex days.
With the infrastructure in place from 2020, Cassellius said a switch to remote learning could happen within a 24- to 48-hour window if need be. "We've been working with the mayor and the city to be prepared in case we do have to pivot to remote."
WATCH: Cassellius on the challenges of keeping schools open during a coronavirus surge
