Portsmouth School Board to hear reopening options despite high COVID-19 positivity rates

Across the state, all but three school districts have resumed in-person instruction or plan to do so by March 15. One of the three still fully virtual? Portsmouth.

The School Board had planned to resume learning once the positivity rate of new coronavirus cases in the city — currently 17% — fell below 10% for 10 consecutive days.

But following a push by Gov. Ralph Northam and moves by neighboring districts to resume in-person learning, Portsmouth’s School Board has asked Superintendent Elie Bracy to present options for in-person learning even if positivity rates remain above that threshold.

Bracy is expected to present options at a specially called board meeting Thursday night.

Portsmouth planned to bring back teachers and staff last fall, and students in early January. First, they pushed back those returns to January for staff and February for students. Then last month, they delayed the return indefinitely, tying it to health metrics.

The state has since issued new guidance that pushes for in-person learning in most cases. The decision to offer in-person or virtual learning is ultimately up to local school boards, but Northam said most of the previously all-virtual districts now plan to meet his March 15 deadline.

Portsmouth Health Director Lauren James told the board last week that while new cases are nearly double the state average, they’re trending down, and she said her department has confidence in the school district’s ability to implement required mitigation strategies such as masking, social distancing and cleaning. James told the board that the new guidance merits a second look at the district’s options.

In Portsmouth, almost 55% of school employees had received their first of two vaccinations, and that number was expected to go up Wednesday following a fourth vaccination clinic.

Several board members have expressed concern about the city’s high positivity rates. But others said the district needs to find a way to resume in-person learning.

“We’ve been pushing this along,” board member Vernon Tillage said. “We need to at least move in the direction of working towards normalcy again.”

On Thursday, the board is just expected to hear the district’s plans. A vote would likely come next week, if the board decides to change directions.

Sara Gregory, 757-469-7484, sara.gregory@pilotonline.com