School recess policy draws complaints

MIDDLETOWN — Elementary school parents have raised questions and concerns about the public schools’ recess policy, which splits recess into two 10-minute periods rather than one continuous session.

Those who have taken issue with the policy say it is the same mask break practice as last year being relabeled as recess, and that 10 minutes is not enough time for children to reap the benefits of free activity.

“Recess is needed for exercise, socialization, to learn creative play and problem-solving,” mother Sarah Kristiansen said. “To get the benefits of recess, the time needs to be longer.”

Kristiansen has one child in fifth grade at Wesley Elementary School, where she attended while young. Even if her child was not still in elementary school, Kristiansen said she would speak out on the issue. “I love this community and support the school district, but it’s hard to understand this decision.”

Parents have contacted school officials and taken to social media to voice their

concerns. One parent, Colleen Sylvestre, who has three children at Farm Hill Elementary School, started an online petition that has since gained almost 1,900 signatures.

Sylvestre said the petition came about after her questions regarding recess received unsatisfactory answers. “Their reasoning doesn’t make much sense to me,” she said.

Middletown Public School officials have said that one of the reasons for the two separate recess periods is to mitigate the potential for virus spread by following cohorting guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These guidelines recommend that students and staff remain separated into groups throughout the school day.

This reasoning has only led to more questions from parents, including Molly Salafia, who has a kindergartner entering Moody Elementary School this year. “Parents have questions because conclusions are not explained and, in my opinion, illogical and not fully brainstormed,” she said.

On the same topic, Kristiansen said she believes “cohorting doesn’t mean shortening recess.”

The other reason the district gave for two separate recess periods is a continuing effort to achieve equity. They said shorter recess periods allow for different cohorts of students to have equal access to the playground and all other equipment. Kristiansen said she offered a solution to both issues in an email to school officials on Tuesday, saying that students could remain in their cohorts and move from one play area to the next in shifts. She said this would maintain cohorting, and allow for equitable access to all play areas — from the blacktop to the playground.

“There seems to be clear solutions that haven’t been addressed,” Kristiansen said.

Some parents have said they felt blindsided by the policy. Joshua Yahwak, who has two children in Farm Hill Elementary School, said allowing parent input sooner would have prevented the issue, and that better communication was needed.

“We just learned about the recess issue through the grapevine when it should have been been presented earlier on in the summer so that parents could have their voices heard,” Yahwak said.

Salafia agreed, saying she has discussed the topic with many other parents. “This issue needs public, transparent, creative brainstorming with parents. Judging by the petition, there are many who have a lot to say.”

In response to the concerns being voiced by parents, Superintendent Michael Conner sent out a letter to elementary school parents and staff Tuesday outlining the policy. In it, Conner said that “recess is on.”

“Recess, defined as free time for unstructured physical activity during the school day, is essential to child development,” Conner said in the letter.

Connecticut statute says that students must receive at least 20 minutes of recess every day. This requirement is satisfied by the district’s current recess format.

“Middletown Public Schools will provide every elementary school student with two separate 10 minutes (20 minutes total) of unstructured physical activity, supervised by their teacher, during the school day,” the letter said.

This response did not satisfy some parents, however. “The memo was disappointing rather than reassuring in regards to questions,” Salafia said.

Kristiansen also said she was disappointed by the letter. “It’s misleading and really nothing has changed. ‘Recess is on’ is inaccurate.”

She said parents want to revisit the policy with their input, and at the very least, wants to see what research and reasoning went into the decision.

Sylvestre said she plans to continue to work toward a solution. “At the end of the day, we all just want what’s best for the kids.”

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Farm Hill Elementary School is located at 390 Ridge Road in Middletown.