Schools to go fully in-person next month

NORTH HAVEN — Starting in October, students will return to school five days a week.

The Board of Education voted to transition from the current hybrid learning model to full-time schooling in person for elementary schools students beginning Oct.

13.

Middle school and high schools students also will return for five days a week in-person schooling on that day, but the board hasn’t decided whether those students will attend half days or full days in person.

The district began its school year Sept. 8 remotely, with middle and high school students starting hybrid learning Sept. 14, with half of all students attending in person on a given day. The first and second cohorts of elementary school students started part-time learning in person Monday and Thursday last week under the same structure.

Because there’s a low coronavirus transmission rate, the board voted to send students back fulltime to give children more inperson learning.

The latest data show North Haven’s percent of positive cases in the last week at 1.1 percent.

When elementary students return to school full-time, safety measures such as masks, sanitizing and social distancing will continue, according to the plan Superintendent of Schools Patrick Stirk presented to the board.

However, schools will increase the number of lunch waves to limit the number of students in the cafeteria at any one time.

The average class size at the elementary schools would be between 14 and 19 students, depending on the grade and the school.

At the secondary level, Stirk recommended students attend half days, with dismissal at noon, then live virtual support from

12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m. and lunches would be a grab-and-go format.

However, the board hasn’t made any determination yet on whether secondary level students should attend for a full day or a half day.

Families who have opted for fully virtual instruction can continue in that format if they choose and don’t have to return to inperson learning, Stirk said.

With a full return, Stirk estimated around 30 to 45 students would be on each bus route daily, but the district is encouraging parents to drive students to and from school when possible.

The board said they would evaluate a full return to school again on Oct. 8 and assess the level of safety and positive case rate.