MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE MELROSE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
THE MELROSE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
This Memorandum of Agreement (hereinafter “Agreement”) is executed by and between the
Melrose School Committee (hereinafter “Committee”) and the Melrose Education Association
(hereinafter “MEA”) Unit A, Teachers to address the Reopening of Schools for the 2020 – 2021
School Year August 2020 as follows:
WHEREAS, the Committee and the MEA have engaged in good faith negotiations regarding the
reopening of school for the 2020-2021 school year;
WHEREAS, the Melrose School Committee, on August 11, 2020, approved the Melrose Public
Schools’ (MPS) Comprehensive Return to Instruction Plan and instructed the Superintendent as
follows: (1) to prepare the Melrose Public Schools to offer robust, synchronous distance learning
for at least the first 4 full weeks of school (until at least Friday, October 16, 2020) as the default
option for most students; (2) to instruct the Superintendent that high-needs students (referred to
as “Group C” in the planning documents) receive safe, in-person instruction and services; (3)
that school buildings open for educators to teach remotely from their classrooms or otherwise
designated safe, individual spaces;
WHEREAS, absent a reasonable accommodation approved and provided by the District,
educators will report to their school building or, upon notice to the educator’s direct supervisor,
an otherwise safe space conducive to meeting the expectations of remote teaching for the 2020–
2021 school year to perform their work, unless the Committee or Superintendent closes the
schools for public health reasons and/or educators are directed otherwise by the Superintendent;
and
WHEREAS, the Parties wish to memorialize their understanding about certain aspects of the
reopening of school for the 2020-2021 school year;
NOW THEREFORE, notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Parties collective
bargaining agreements or practices, the Parties hereby agree as follows for the duration of the
2020 – 2021 work year, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties:
1. Standing Negotiations Committee: The parties recognize that not all issues can be
covered in this MOA, so the parties commit to forming an implementation bargaining
committee and will meet on as needed basis with a regular standing meeting scheduled
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every two weeks. The Parties will continue to collaborate with regard to the Hybrid
Learning Model for students in grades 2-12 and will impact bargain, where appropriate,
with said bargaining to be completed by October 2, 2020.
2. Work Year: The work year for all Unit A educators covered by this Agreement shall
remain unchanged. The number of instructional days for students will be 170 for the
2020-2021 school year. As approved by the Committee on August 11, 2020, the
Educator work year will begin on August 31, 2020. The first ten days will be reserved for
professional development, training, curriculum work, orientation, material distribution,
completing new special education required documents, classroom set-up, collaboration
time, and/or other duties as set forth in the Melrose Public Schools’ Return to Instruction
Professional Development Plan. The school year for students will begin on September
16, 2020.
3. Health and Safety:
A. Community Metrics:
i. The District will work closely with the Melrose Department of Public Health to
monitor metrics related to positive case rates and trends in the City of Melrose, individual
schools, the District as a whole, and the Commonwealth.
ii. The parties will rely on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
COVID-19 dashboard for all COVID-19 data.
iii. If the percent positivity rate in the City of Melrose increases over 2%, the
Superintendent, prior to making a decision to return to a remote-only model, will, in
consultation with the Melrose Department of Public Health, review other such relevant
metrics, including but not limited to:
a. Case count in Melrose (last 14 days);
b. Relative change in case counts; and
c. Average Daily Incidence rate per 100,000.
iv. If the decision is made to return to a full remote-model due to current health and
safety metrics, the Superintendent will, upon consultation with the Melrose Department
of Public Health, decide whether to continue to provide in-person instruction to
vulnerable students (including but not limited to those with disabilities, English learners,
and students who have not engaged or cannot engage with remote learning).
v. If Melrose is within the yellow, green or white color-coded metric established by
the DPH/COVID-19 Command, for the time period of October 5, 2020 through October
16, 2020, the District will, in the discretion of and at the direction of the Superintendent,
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move from the remote-only model to the best-fit model, with students designated as
“Group A” and “Group B” (in the MPS Comprehensive Return to Instruction Plan
approved by the Committee on August 11, 2020) returning to school for in-person
instruction.
vi. Melrose will maintain a white or green color-coded metric, established by the
DPH/COVID-19 Command, for at least 14 days before shifting from a hybrid model to a
full in-person model.
vii. If the District meets these community metrics and moves to any in-person model
(hybrid or full), these benchmarks must be maintained, or the District will, at the
direction of the Superintendent, revert to full remote.
B. COVID-19:
i. Educators will follow all Massachusetts orders and best practices for 6 feet social
distancing and travel.
ii. Prior to student returning, educators will complete an attestation form indicating
their readiness to work after completing Melrose Public Schools Employee Training.
iii. Educators will monitor and report any COVID-19 symptoms and stay home when
they are sick.
iv. The district will explore electronic means of touchless communication of relevant
information (daily forms, bathrooms, etc.).i.
C. Required Face Coverings: While Educators may provide their own face
coverings/masks the District will also provide each staff member with five (5) disposable
masks per week as requested on Thursdays (to be provided in mailboxes on Friday). All
persons in the building shall be required to wear a face covering at all times when with
students or colleagues unless the educator has a medical disability which prevents the
educator from wearing a face covering or during designated mask breaks, provided there
is at least 6’ of physical distancing.
D. Personal Protective Equipment:
i. As recommended by the DESE, the District shall maintain a supply of:
disposable masks
face shields
disposable gowns
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disposable gloves
cleaning products such as hand sanitizer, cleaning spray/wipes,
paper towels, soap.
ii. Staff members will communicate with their supervisor any needs for additional
PPE. Educators who work with students in situations where social distancing cannot be
maintained, a student cannot wear appropriate face coverings, or close contact is required
(toileting, dressing, etc.) will be provided with appropriate PPE.
E. Facilities and Operations:
i. The District in partnership with the Department of Public Works (DPW) shall
provide all cleaning supplies necessary for maintaining health and safety standards.
ii. The DPW will meet or exceed all expectations outlined in the July 22, 2020
DESE Facilities and Operations Guidance and as articulated in the City of Melrose DPW
School Facilities 2020-2021 Reopening Plan.
iii. Pursuant to the Article VIII Section V of the contract between the School
Committee and the Melrose Education Association the Health and Safety Advisory
Committee will be tasked with discussions on Health & Safety issues and concerns that
arise in District buildings. The Health and Safety Advisory Committee will make
recommendations to the Superintendent and the School Committee on actions they
believe need to be taken to ensure the health and safety of students and staff.
4. Workday: The length of the workday for educators covered by this Agreement shall
remain unchanged from the Parties’ collective bargaining agreement and educators will
continue to receive their prep time and duty free lunch as provided in the Parties’
collective bargaining agreement.
5. Educator Evaluation: The Parties shall comply with the Educator Evaluation
requirements as contractually obligated. The requirements and timeline provided for in
the Parties’ collective bargaining agreement shall remain unchanged; however, the
mechanics of the evaluation may vary based on the District’s method of delivery of
instruction to students (i.e. remote instruction, hybrid, or all in-person). If the Educator
Evaluation timeline requires modification due to the student year, the Parties will
negotiate any changes and may adjust the timeline accordingly. The District-wide Labor
Management Committee will convene to determine the timeline and focus indicators for
evaluation for the 2020-2021 work year.
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6. Student Attendance and Grades: Educators shall continue to be responsible for
ensuring student attendance is taken. All secondary educators will take attendance each
period/day for the cohort they are responsible for that day. Specialists shall take
attendance for each of their classes. All levels (elementary and secondary) must provide
feedback and grades for asynchronous lessons. Educators shall continue to enter student
attendance and grades into Aspen.
7. Remote Learning Model: Educators will be required to adhere to the Melrose Public
Schools Remote Learning Expectations.
8. Quarantines: If an educator is required to quarantine or care for someone who is
quarantined, but is not symptomatic, that educator may after consultation with his/her
administrator be required to work remotely. If an educator is available to work remotely,
but is directed by their supervisor not to, they will not be charged accrued time.
9. Educators that have been involuntarily transferred or have moved positions to fit the
needs of the District for the 2020-2021 school year, will be given the option to return to
their previously held positions.
10. This Memorandum of Agreement shall not be used as precedent or cited as practice by
either the Committee or the Association in any proceeding whatsoever except to enforce
the terms of this Memorandum of Agreement.
11. This Agreement shall not be modified except for in writing and by mutual agreement and
consent of both parties.
Agreed to on the date(s) indicated below. The Parties’ electronic signatures shall be deemed
authentic signatures.
Melrose School Committee: Melrose Education Association:
Electronic Signature on file Electronic Signature on file
Date: Date:
9/10/2020 9/10/2020
