Schools

JP school continues COVID-19 closure despite state pushback

The Curley K-8 School shifted to remote learning amid reports of 46 cases of the virus at the school.

The Curley K-8 School in Jamaica Plain. CRAIG F. WALKER/GLOBE STAFF

November 15, 2021

Jamaica Plain school to close for 10 days due to rise in COVID-19 cases

The Curley K-8 School in Jamaica Plain is continuing its 10-day building closure due to a rise in COVID-19 cases despite pushback from the state.

Jeff Riley, commissioner for the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, said in a letter that he would not count the school’s remote learning days toward its number of required school days for the current year, and that students would have to return by Wednesday, or have to make up three days of school, according to The Boston Herald.

But Boston officials are pushing back against what Riley said.

“If you still feel strongly that you will not count the additional 3 days in the 180 days required, we have no doubt the school community and our union partners will rally for our students and we will figure out how best to make up the time,” school Superintendent Brenda Cassellius and Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, executive director for the Boston Public Health Commission, said in a letter on Saturday, the newspaper reported.

As of Wednesday, 46 COVID-19 cases had been reported at the school. It is set to reopen next Monday.

Last Wednesday, the state reported that across all districts, there had been 2,640 cases among students and 381 among staff for the one-week period, according to The Boston Globe.