What will school look like in Stamford?
Superintendent presents district’s reopening plan to community
STAMFORD — In some ways, the beginning of the upcoming school year will look like the end of the last one, but there are changes in store for students and staff.
One major difference is that Stamford officials want all students back in school buildings this year, unlike last year, where about a fourth of students followed along from their computers at home.
“The goal this year is for 100 percent of our students to be back in school,” said Superintendent Tamu Lucero. “We have really worked to put mitigating strategies in place so that we can continue to work toward that goal.”
Here is a rundown of some of the major areas of focus for district officials, and how they plan on handling each:
Masks
The school district has little say on this topic until Sept. 30 when an executive order mandating mask-wearing in schools expires. The order is in effect until then. Masking also applies to school buses, but not outdoor activities at schools.
Last year, Stamford was able to offer a standalone Distance Teaching and Learning Academy, or DTLA, and about a fourth of all students took part in the at-home instruction model.
But for the 2021-22 school year, DTLA will no longer be offered.
That decision comes from the state, as part of an effort to get students back into classrooms and curb some of the disengagement that occurred last school year.
However, remote learning is not going away entirely. It will still be offered to some students with disabilities, as well as those who live with family members who are at risk from COVID-19. For the latter, students will have to provide paperwork to the district proving that a member of their family is vulnerable to the virus.
“We believe very few people will qualify for this, but it is something that we have to look at,” Lucero said.
Students stuck at home because of quarantine will be able to follow along from home virtually.
In case there is an outbreak at a school and a building is shut down, teachers will transition to a distance learning model.
“The state does not allow for a day of school to be counted unless a student is in school or falls under one of these categories that we’re able to provide,” Lucero said.
Social distancing and quarantining
Desks in classrooms will be at least three feet apart, officials said, mirroring the protocol that was in place at the end of last school year.
One big difference, Lucero said, is that when there is a positive case of COVID-19 in a classroom, students who were more than three feet away from the infected student will not need to quarantine. Last year, the rule was six feet. However, when students are eating and not wearing masks, the three-foot rule is not applied, and any contacts within six feet could be asked to quarantine. For those contacts who need to quarantine, the length of time remains 10 days, with no negative test needed to return to school.
The quarantine rules do not apply to vaccinated students, said Henry Yoon, the city’s medical adviser. Yoon said those students will not have to quarantine as long as they remain asymptomatic.
Screening and testing
A new service will be provided this year at each of the schools: students and staff will have the chance to undergo weekly COVID-19 screening and testing.
The service is optional and paid for by the state.
While testing is an option, Lucero encouraged all staff and students of age to get vaccinated against the virus.
She said the tests administered will be of the PCR variety, not the rapid test. She also said the nasal swab would collect samples immediately inside the nostrils, unlike other swabs that go further into the nasal cavity.
This week, the Stamford Board of Education passed a resolution mandating vaccines for all Stamford Public School staff, with the option of weekly testing for those who wish to remain unvaccinated.
Home schooling
Even before COVID-19, parents had the option to home-school their children. But this year, parents who choose that option will receive more support, Lucero said. She didn’t elaborate on what that would look like, but said it would come from the Office of Family and Community Engagement.
Lucero said she is working with the Board of Education to rewrite a regulation so that students in magnet schools do not lose their place if they remain at home for the next school year.
“We really would like to have all of our students back in school, but we understand that some families just won’t feel comfortable doing that this year,” she said.
Sports
Lucero said the district is expecting a full return to fall sports, but some restrictions will be in place.
For instance, indoor sports will still have limits on spectators, as athletes will only be allowed to have up to two visitors at games. Last year, only seniors were allowed to have guests. Athletes will need to wear masks for indoor sports.
For outdoor games, Lucero said, there will be no limit on spectators.
Music and physical education
Instrumental music and band will return at elementary, middle and high schools.
Lucero said the district is encouraging instrumental music to take place outside as much as possible. Singing will also be held outdoors.
Some limitations will remain, such as coverings on woodwind instruments.
Gym class will operate in much the same way, taking place outside when weather permits.
“A lot of our gyms will need to be used as cafeterias to allow our students to spread out,” Lucero said, explaining why outdoor recess and physical education will be prioritized.