Gilbert School board hammers out plan for reopening

WINSTED — The Gilbert School’s plan for reopening includes staggered hall passing times, block scheduling and new foot traffic flow through the building, officials said.

Superintendent of Schools Anthony Serio outlined the plans during a special meeting of the Gilbert School Corp. this week, which included a review of back-to-school policies, as the school prepares to reopen for visits at the end of August. Classes begin Sept. 8.

Gilbert School Corp. members developed three iterations of school reopening: full in-person, full distance learning, and a hybrid model combining both in-person and remote learning, according to the reopening plan. The school has developed cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing plans for the building; measured classrooms, hallways

and stairwells for social distancing issues; and have planned foot traffic flow throughout the building. Food service staff also have planned for multiple lunch waves and delivery systems, Serio said.

Gilbert Principal Sue Sojka reviewed the procedures for classroom time, including the requirement for teachers to wear a mask at all times. She also said plastic shields will be provided, if teachers wanted to use them. Some board members were concerned about a teacher standing before students for the entire period, saying it would be difficult and uncomfortable for them.

“I’d rather make sure

we have all the resources available to teachers if they want to use them,” said board member Theresa Padin. “I’d rather overspend a little and make sure they’re comfortable.”

Gilbert students will return to school Sept. 8. There will be school visits permitted during the week of Aug. 31 to Sept. 3 for students who are new to the school and incoming seventh graders. This is subject to change, according to Serio.

The school also is adopting a block schedule, in which it will hold four 90-minute classes a day, with five minutes between each class and “staggered” hall times for students to go to their next classroom.

For those students who choose to stay at home and use distance learning, Gilbert is using Google

Classrooms, and providing all classroom materials to those students, officials said.

During the discussion on the policy for masks for students, members were worried about students getting on a school bus without them.

“Some transportation is being shared with the Winchester Public Schools, so we don’t know if everyone will be wearing (a mask),” said school corporation member Ellen Marino. “You’re required to wear a mask. If you don’t wear a mask, you don’t get on the bus.”

“The policy makes wearing a mask mandatory, including the driver,” Serio said.

Serio also explained the plan to reopen in a statement to parents and students on the Gilbert

School website.

The school reopening to all students is being done “as recommended by the Governor of Connecticut, Ned Lamont, and the Commissioner of Education, Miguel Cardona,” Serio wrote.

“Clearly, the infection rates in Connecticut are low and citizens are assisting by following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the Connecticut Department of Public Health,” Serio wrote. “The safety and health of our students, their families and our staff will guide our preparedness to open our doors at the end of August.”

The Gilbert School’s entire reopening plan is posted on the school’s website, gilbertschool.org.