By Kathy Kennedy
State Rep., R-119
Kathy Kennedy
School is almost here. Yes, it’s hard to believe, and yet we still living with a very real and serious virus. It’s easy to get lost in the chaos of preparing for the start of a new school year, especially following a year of remote learning and hybrid learning. The delta variant of COVID-19 has made plans to go back to school a little more anxious for thousands of Connecticut parents.
This year the goal of the Connecticut State Department of Education is 100 percent in-person learning. As anticipated, parents and students may have safety concerns or anxieties, as well as a multitude of questions.
Careful planning has gone into bringing our students back into our buildings. Our Milford and Orange school districts have worked throughout the summer preparing policies, procedures and, of course, the classrooms to make sure our children and families have the safest and best learning environment possible.
To help with a smooth transition for parents and children, I want to make you aware of some of the recommendations and guidelines for the upcoming school year.
The current executive order signed by Gov. Ned Lamont requiring K-12 students in Connecticut to wear masks in school buildings and other settings can be found at portal.ct.gov/-/media/Office-of-the-Governor/Executive-Orders/Lamond-Executive -Orders/Executive-Order-No-12A.pdf and is in effect until at least Sept. 30.
In early August, the state Department of Education released guidelines for the upcoming 2021-22 school year to school districts, including Milford and Orange, on information about physical distancing, cohorting, ventilation systems and other pandemic-related safety measures.
Additionally, the Connecticut Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the education department, has issued interim recommendations for school districts for COVID-19 prevention in Connecticut’s prekindergarten-12 schools, which can be viewed here: DPH & CSDE Interim Fall Guidance.
Both agencies have also received federal funding and plan to offer a no-cost weekly pooled COVID-19 screening testing program in K-6 educational settings for unvaccinated students and staff. Unvaccinated students and staff in grades 7-12 may be considered based on funding.
You can always visit the Milford and Orange public school websites for the most up-to-date information on the upcoming school year.
As always, please contact me should you have any questions about this important issue or concerns on any other topics relating to state government at Kathy.Kennedy@housegop.ct.gov or at 800-842-1423.