Teachers in Darien plan protest

DARIEN — In response to the district’s announcement Friday of a staggered plan to return more secondary students to the classroom in-person, Darien teachers have planned a “black-out” this week.

The plan to wear black was discussed in an internal email sent to Darien school staff from the teachers’ union president.

“We find ourselves again in a position where we are forced to play tug of war with our commitment to our students and Darien Public Schools and with our need to ensure our own safety and fight for the proper respect and care from our upper administration,” wrote Darien Education Association President Joslyn Delancey in the letter.

On Friday, Schools Superintendent Alan Addley sent an email to parents with a schedule to return secondary students to fullperson learning, beginning Monday, with Darien High seniors and Middlesex Middle School eighth-graders.

“Since health and safety practices in schools continue to mitigate virus spread, we are hopeful this plan will maximize in person learning with a measured approach to ensure health and safety for students and staff,” Addley said. “...While we recognize all students benefit from full in person learning, the transition plan for different grades to return to school was also based on transition readiness.”

On Feb. 8, ninth-graders to the high school, and seventh-grade students return to the middle school. On March 1, 10thand 11th-graders return to the high school and sixthgraders to the middle school. Also beginning March 1, Friday half days will be in person for all students.

Elementary school students have been in person since Sept. 29. Secondary students went to a hybrid model in November.

In her letter, however, Delancey criticized the timing of in-person learning expansion plans.

“Dr. Addley’s decision to bring back both the high school seniors and eighth grade class to full in person learning comes at a time when we’ve had the highest amount of cases yet, there are two new strains of COVID-19 that are more virulent, and we had 60 teachers and students quarantined at DHS Thursday and Friday alone,” Delancey wrote.

Delancey said beginning Monday and lasting through the week, “DEA is asking all teachers, paras, and any other faculty member who will participate to wear black.”

She said the staff will also “be working to contract.”

“This means that we will put in the time and effort only required of us within our contractual obligations. That means we start when the students start and leave when the students leave. We don’t answer emails and calls past our working hours,” Delancey said.

Addley said teachers are “understandably” concerned about the safety of students and teachers, adding the black-out planned was “unfortunate.”

“It can be confusing and distracting from the good progress students and teachers have been making,” he said. “... We’re trying to increase student density in a reasonable manner where we have the opportunity to do so. He noted the district will continue to consult with medical advisors on a weekly basis.

DeLancey said the Monday demonstration was “calm, quiet and subtle.”

“We held no signs and made no effort to have discussions with students about this,” she said. “While we walked in with solidarity and a message to keep safety in mind moving forward, we are doing our jobs today and teaching the students of Darien.”

Many parents have been critical of the district’s approach to in-person learning and the decision to begin January with a week of remote learning. At the time, the impact of holiday travel was a factor in that decision, according to the district’s medical consultants.

Addley and the Board of Education have urged patience.

On Jan. 22, Middlesex Middle School Principal Shelley Somers sent an email to parents saying she has received “many emails this past week berating our teachers, our nurses, and our staff, attacking our policies/communication around switching to/from remote learning, and voicing complaints about student struggles and hybrid learning in general.”

Somers said the pandemic is “new territory” for everyone.

“Our teachers have been handed the monumental task of individualizing instruction and developing lessons to ensure mastery of content and skills for all learners, and my assistant principals and I try to keep it all together and meet your expectations,” she wrote.

Addley said he is asking the community to “be respectful as we navigate these extremely challenging times.”

“We’re learning as we go, and learning how to mitigate and plan for in-person learning. It’s understandable the teachers have a difficult time with the data and decisions in light of increased COVID-19 cases across the district,” he said.

Darien Board of Education Chairman Duke Dineen said the board understands “there are many perspectives and concerns as we work through these complicated times.”

“It is in our best interest to come together as a district and a community to find solutions,” he said.

The next Board of Education meeting is Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Community members can view the meeting on YouTube and make public comment via Zoom.