Stratford schools full-time return ‘just around the corner’
STRATFORD — Students in the town’s public schools will return to full in-person learning next month, the superintendent announced in a letter to families Wednesday.
“The day we’ve all been waiting for is just around the corner,” Superintendent Janet Robinson said. “After all this time, we are nearing the day we can welcome back our students to ‘in person’ academics.”
Students in kindergarten through eighth grade have had the option to be in school for four days a week since Feb. 1.
Bunnell and Stratford high schools are on a hybrid model where separate groups attend school in person two days a week and three days of remote learning. Both schools went fully remote at times last year because of positive COVID-19 cases and resulting staff shortages from the number of people in quarantine.
Robinson said the last day of the hybrid model will be April 1, “and the doors will
open on April 5 at all of our schools (elementary, middle and high schools) welcoming the return of our student body.”
At least initially, Wednesdays will be an early dismissal day for elementary schools.
The status of students who opted for full distance learning at the beginning of the year will not change.
“Students who are in full remote learning will remain in full remote learning, as this is a decision you have made as a parent based upon your concern in keeping your child safe,” the superintendent wrote to parents. “Should you wish to have your child return to ‘in person’ instruction, please reach out to your principal to let them know your plans; otherwise, there is no need to do anything differently.”
The school district sends daily updates on positive coronavirus cases to families in the district and also maintains a public COVID-19 dashboard showing the number of positive cases among students and staff at each school, as well as how many are in quarantine.
As of Thursday morning,
there were 21 students and one staff member with positive cases district-wide. A total of 198 students and 47 staff members were quarantining because of close contact with a person who had tested positive for the virus.
Robinson has said repeatedly that officials believe the coronavirus cases among students and staff are being contracted at home and not in the schools.
At the same time, teachers and union officials have
expressed reservations about the school district’s efforts to return to full time in-person learning.
A message was left with the president of the teachers union.
The superintendent’s reopening announcement comes after more than 500 educators, support staff and daycare providers received doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic hosted by the Stratford Health Department Saturday.
“Due to our safety success, our current mitigation protocols and the wonderful partnership between Stratford Public Schools and the Stratford Public Health Department, we believe we can successfully and safely bring our students back to school,” Robinson wrote in her letter to parents.
The superintendent also stressed the need to maintain basic prevention guidelines, including frequent hand-washing, masking and social distancing.
She said families should reach out with questions and concerns to principals at individual schools who would also be notifying families about after-school tutoring “and an engaging summer school agenda.”
“We know this change will be an emotional change and will bring about excitement, apprehensions and questions that students and parents alike may have about re-entering on a full time basis,” Robinson said.
“Our wonderful administrators are more than happy to speak with you about any concerns and assist in assuring you our safety protocols will remain in force as we continue our journey through this coronavirus pandemic. Remember, the safety of all students is our first and foremost priority,” she said.