By Kathy Kennedy
State Rep., R-119
Kathy Kennedy
Last week, every school district in the state was on the edge of their seat waiting for the governor and the state Department of Education’s guidelines on fall school reopening.
There are many different aspects of reopening our schools, from anxious parents worried about their children getting sick to working parents trying to figure out child care and their ability to go back to work if distance learning continues to educators and school administrators trying to navigate in-person learning and transportation with social distancing protocols.
The Department of Education released its new comprehensive plan for returning to in-school, full-time classes beginning in the fall. The plan, titled “Adapt, Advance, Achieve: Connecticut’s Plan to Learn and Grow Together,” will serve as a guideline for schools across the state to follow as they reopen for the 2020-21 academic year. The Department of Education worked closely with the state Department of Public Health in crafting the guidelines.
It is recommended that school districts use a ‘cohorting’ system, keeping the same students in small groups based on classrooms. All students will have to socially distance and desks in the classroom will have to be spread out to maximize social distancing. Students and staff will be required to wear masks and wash their hands frequently. Facial coverings will also be mandatory for the school bus drivers and the students who ride the bus to and from school.
This plan was created with input from students, teachers, parents, principals, superintendents and other education stakeholders. The considerations outlined follow these six guiding principles:
- Safeguarding the health and safety of students and staff.
- Allowing students the opportunity to return to the classrooms full time this fall.
- Monitoring the school populations and, when necessary, potentially cancelling classes in the future.
- Emphasizing equity, access and support to the students and communities.
- Fostering strong two-way communications with families, educators and staff.
- Factoring into decisions about reopening the challenges to the physical safety and social-emotional well-being of our students when they are not in school.
Each district will review the material and is expected to report back to the commissioner and governor on the types of supports needed to make the protocols feasible. They will be identifying additional costs inclusive of staffing, technology, building modifications and more. The plan is guided by current health data with the acknowledgement that it will require fluidity.
Options will be available to continue remote learning for those uncomfortable about a return to the physical classroom. These distance tools will vary district to district.
As always, please contact me should you have any questions about the coronavirus or concerns on any other issues relating to state government at Kathy.Kennedy@housegop.ct.gov or at 800-842-1423. I do frequently update my state Facebook page and my state website with the latest COVID-19 information.