The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Districts with distance learning don’t have to make up lost school days
A new directive by the state Department of Education waives the 180-day school requirement for all schools, with state officials noting that the statewide school closures will likely go on for weeks.
“Due to changes in CDC guidance, in which they suggest that there may be longterm cancellations of classes ... we are planning to reduce your reporting requirements and eliminate individual district applications for 180day waivers,” reads a directive issued Monday by Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona.
Gov. Ned Lamont’s order for a statewide closure of schools had set a March 31 end date, but left the door open to an extension. Allowing the days at home to count as school days gives districts a firm schedule to work with for figuring out an end date for the school year — no matter how long the closures last.
Until now, districts had to go until June 30 before the 180
disposable income to support a business in that way. It’s going to be about putting food on the table,” he explained.
Most of his employees are part-time. Shapiro is coming to the realization that laying off staff so they can collect unemployment may be better.
Monday was a normal day at NoRA Cupcake, Carella said, so she stocked her bakery with pastries Tuesday. “We might be visiting some shelters at the end of the day” with the excess.
NoRA also has a food truck and booming catering and wedding business. Carella had hoped to soon open a bar serving small bites, but that plan is on hold. For now, her birthday party orders remain.
In an effort to not only remain productive, but help other struggling individuals, days would be waived. Now all distance learning days will count as school days.
Cardona said the department focus now is on helping districts provide students with continuing educational opportunities. The department is calling on the state’s regional education service centers, such as Cooperative Education Services and Area Cooperative Education Services, to help school districts with resources and materials.
Districts are advised to start planning lessons providing students with these opportunities
Carella has been reaching out to friends, offering any help she can, including one who co-owns Ripe Bar Juice in New Haven.
“They’re laying off everyone, too. He’s back to squeezing juice and delivering,” said Carella, who offered her cold storage as a pickup point for deliveries. “You have to be creative and think outside the box, and what do you have that might help somebody else.”
She’s leaned on other business owners in the North of Rapallo Avenue district. “Everyone has to make the decision that’s right for their plan and business model.”
The shop and employees are close to Carella’s heart. “Not sure how long this will last or how long NoRA Cupcake Company will be able to weather the storm, but she’s part of my family along with those ... employees, so I will fight as long as I can to keep the family together.”
Pamela Steele, chairwoman of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce Central Business Bureau, has been seeing one or two customers a day coming in to her knitting shop, Pamela Roose at 88 Court St. “I definitely have seen a turndown in business.”
In light of little foot traffic, Steele is catching up on paperwork and other tasks. She is encouraging knitters — and anyone interested in learning the craft — to consider ordering items, which she’ll mail, hand out curbside or deliver if requested.
“One fortunate thing is you don’t need to worry about crowds being here,” said Steele, who is disinfecting surfaces once each customer leaves. A few have stocked up on needles and yarn since they’re mostly confined to home and enjoying extra free time.
Steele’s boom season runs from October until March or April. Steele, who is retired from her career, is concerned immediately.
Cardona’s office said they are basically telling districts to switch from supplemental learning activities to more long-term instructional lessons.
On Tuesday, school superintendents were given an 18-page resource guide with links to a number of online learning platforms designed for students in Grades PK-12. Districts have the authority to devise designed their own plans and lessons. The expectations are the same as if students were in school. about sales flattening much earlier than expected. “The one saving grace is I don’t have to go through the heartbreak of laying any people off. I can’t even imagine what small business owners are saying to employees.
“The sad part is we’re not going to be able to recoup our losses,” she said. “Once you lose business, you’re not going to get it back.
“It will get better. It will get back to normal, but you won’t recoup anything,” she said.
Mary Ellen Shuckerow, executive director of the St. Vincent de Paul Middletown soup kitchen, is urging the public not to drop off food or to stand outside handing out items, although she appreciates the effort.
It will continue to offer meals to walk-ups from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. daily. The dining room is closed, but takeout meals will be distributed out front, with sandwiches to take home, as well.
The Amazing Grace food pantry has reduced its hours to Wednesday and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Items picked up at the 16 Stack St. location will be prepackaged in boxes for shoppers to take
was the case in Connecticut and other states until last week.
Lamont and David Lehman, his economic chief, said the state will expand unemployment compensation to include independent contractors, though they didn’t give details. Lehman described several state and federal lending and loanrelief programs and said business tax filing deadlines will be pushed back.
Lamont announced no further closures or restrictions. Asked about possible calls for residents to “shelter in place” in their homes, he said, “the answer to that is not yet,” he said, adding, “the people of Connecticut understand what we’re doing and they’ve stepped up.”
But with only 26 positive tests among the 248 tests completed at the state laboratory, the worst of the infection rate is in the state’s future. “That’s still a very low percentage,” Cartter said. “It won’t be long before we see 40 to 50 percent of those testing positive.”.
He said testing is important but it’s only one tool. “It’s our individual actions that are going to make the difference here,” Cartter said. “The vast majority of people who get this illness
It is not clear how the state will monitor whether the work being sent home is being done. The state says the expectation is that districts will continue to engage all students to the greatest extent possible, consistent with federal and state guidance.
The state has yet to give direction on spring standardized testing although it appears likely the school administered SAT will be postponed.
Some districts have already begun work. Others are still planning. All are expected to begin by Monday.
In Bridgeport, Acting Schools Superintendent Michael Testani has asked teachers to report to school on Thursday and Friday to copy grade level packets of materials home based on family size.
The warming center has moved to the former Green Street Teaching and Learning Center at 51 Green St.
Middlesex Health has a limited number of tests and physicians are focused on evaluating patients accordingly, spokeswoman Amanda Falcone said.
There are confirmed cases of COVID-19, she said Tuesday afternoon.
If patients come to the emergency department with symptoms on the advice of their doctor, they can be evaluated. However, they are not promised a test. “We are testing a very specific population right now, based on guidelines from the DPH,” she said. The process may differ per person.
Middlesex Health placed a trailer and will soon have a tent in front of the Middletown emergency department on Crescent Street. “We are still working out the details and need to secure the necessary approvals, but this setup should ultimately allow us to evaluate patients outdoors who may have COVID-19. Evaluating outdoors is better for all,” Falcone said.
will not get very sick. They might think they have a mild cold; be a little achy, not quite normal and be better in a few days. They don’t need to be tested. The test also isn’t useful for people who are not sick.”
Lamont and other state officials promised that people who get sick will be able to obtain financial assistance and maintain their health insurance coverage. He expects Congress to soon act on relief that could bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the state, including two weeks of paid sick leave.
“If the federal government doesn’t get that right, Connecticut will get that right,” Lamont said. “I want you to be able to count on that.”
The governor asked state residents to support local restaurants by ordering take-out, to keep them open at a time when 160,000 jobs have been threatened by Monday’s closure of sitdown food service, as well as recreational facilities, schools and movie theaters. “I come out of small business and I know folks are terrified,” the governor said during the 34-minute news conference.
Lamont stressed the need to deal with any possible further closures, such for students who do not have internet access or devices at home. The plan is for parents without internet or device access at home to collect the packets on Monday.
For students with internet access, the same materials will be loaded to the district website on a distance learning portal according to the current plan.
In an email to the school board, Testani said the district has to consider every one of the 20,000 plus student in the district. The district has over 3,400 students that receive special education services and more than 4,100 English language learners.
“They will be included in how we make decisions,” Testani wrote.
The nonprofit is further restricting visitors to one person at all service locations. Each must be healthy and over 18. Anyone who is sick, especially those with flu-like symptoms or symptoms of coronavirus, shouldn’t visit or accompany patients, the release said. Restrictions apply to all Middlesex Health facilities, including Middlesex Hospital, two satellite emergency departments in Westbrook and Marlborough, and the outpatient surgical center on Saybrook Road in Middletown.
One MacDonough Place, an assisted living community in Middletown owned by Middlesex Health, is closed to all visitors except for medically necessary visits.
Across town, South Fire District is closed to the public until further notice. The special commissioners election March 31 is postponed.
Anyone who believes they were exposed to the coronavirus should call their medical provider before heading to an emergency department, urgent care center or other medical office. For information, visit MiddlesexHealth.org/Ready.
as shopping malls, on a regional basis with governors from surrounding states like the massive shutdowns ordered Monday. “It’s something we’re looking at,” Lamont told reporters. “I think the people of Connecticut understand the scope of what we’re confronting,” Lamont said.”
Attorney General William Tong said Tuesday that 71 allegations of illegal price gouging have been filed with his office.
In addition, state Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez on Tuesday asked state banks and credit union to help small business and consumers. He suggested loosening credit terms for new loans, waiving overdraft and late fees, allowing more money market withdrawals, and deferring some payments. The commissioners also asked lending institutions to also work with loan servicers and collection agencies to help ease consumer stress.
Other events in the fastbreaking public health crisis, included the cancellation of the University of Connecticut spring commencement exercises in May.
Dan Haar, columnist and associate editor, contributed.