Dear Community Members; Parents, Guardians, and Student Advocates,

This pandemic has placed significant burdens on child care providers throughout the country and recognizing how incredibly difficult it can be to practice any type of child welfare, a profession built on human connections, during a time when social interactions, look, feel, and sound so different than they did a few months ago. However, we remain committed to serving our students and will adapt to any conditions to promote their health, safety, and wellbeing.

On June 25, 2020, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released its initial reopening guidance for the 2020/2021 School Year. DESE has asked all Massachusetts schools to comply with their guidance and devise three scenario school opening plans: In-person, Hybrid, and Remote. Adhering to the recommendations of DESE, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Public Health, Whitney Academy has developed three plans to adapt to any increased risk of COVID-19.

As a residential school, Whitney Academy is the home to many students with no alternative placement. Thus, our program will continue to remain open through the entirety of this pandemic. However, we will adapt and remain flexible to how we deliver our services as the environment around us changes. Fortunately, COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts remain relatively low and so we plan to initially open the school building in the Fall. However, in the event cases begin to rise locally, we will close the school building and transition to our remote plan where students will remain in their residences. The full school opening plan can be found on our website here.

While we cannot predict what will happen in the coming weeks or months, the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. We will continue to take any and all necessary measures to ensure everyone’s well-being and together we will get through this. Thank you for your understanding and support during these challenging times.

Sincerely,

Kevin S. Marques,

Executive Director
The Whitney Academy, Inc.