April 29, 2021

Dear Duxbury Community,

I hope this email finds you well. It has been a challenging month in Duxbury to say the least, as the fallout continues from two crises and the corresponding media coverage. Although it will take time for the community to heal, we should not forget that Duxbury is a town filled with amazing people, and that we have a strong foundation that may bend, but will certainly not break. 

It should also not get lost that there are many positive things happening in the community, most notably that all of our students are back to school full time! After a successful return for grades K-3 and grades 4-5 on February 1 and March 1 respectively, we returned grades 6-12 back on April 5. It has been wonderful to see the energy return to our hallways and classrooms, and it is certainly a step in the right direction. 

Please find below a few miscellaneous updates:

Update on Close Contact Guidance

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in conjunction with the CDC, has updated its guidance on contract tracing in schools. The primary change is that students or staff members who are within 3-6 feet of an individual who has tested positive will be identified as a “close contact”, but will not be required to quarantine.  Although the “close contact” will not be required to quarantine, the state guidance does suggest they “should get tested, actively monitor for symptoms, and implement the other key health and safety practices”. Please contact your school nurse if you have additional questions. 

Loosening of Outdoor Mask Mandate Does Not Apply to Schools

You may have heard that Governor Baker has loosened the outdoor mask mandate. Starting Friday, April 30, masks will no longer be required outdoors as long as the person can maintain social distancing. However, please note that the change does not apply to public schools, and students will still be required to wear masks during recess, outdoor PE time, etc. 

Duxbury’s Blueprint for Learning: 2021-2023

At last month’s School Committee meeting, Assistant Superintendent Danielle Klingaman gave a presentation about how the Duxbury Public Schools plans to address the unfinished learning associated with the pandemic. A link to Dr. Klingaman’s presentation can be found here. Also, if you would like to watch the presentation, please click here for the meeting video. The full version of the document can be found at the following link

Football Investigation Timeline

As you know, the Duxbury Public Schools hired an independent investigator. Edward R. Mitnick of Just Training Solutions, LLC, to assist us in conducting a full investigation of the allegations made against the football program. Mr. Mitnick’s investigation is nearing completion, and we hope to be able to provide the community with an update by mid-May.

Thank you,

John Antonucci, Superintendent

Danielle Klingaman, Assistant Superintendent