More parents unhappy with new recess policy

Students are now allowed two 10-minute periods of recreation

MIDDLETOWN — The discussion surrounding Middletown Public Schools’ recess policy continued Tuesday at the Board of Education meeting, where several parents gave their opinions on having two, 10-minute periods of recreation.

Pre-pandemic, the district had one, 25-minute time frame where students could enjoy free time.

Colleen Sylvestre, who has three children who attend Farm Hill Elementary School, started an online petition that now has just under 2,000 signatures. She was the first parent to speak at the meeting.

“I find it frustrating to our elementary-age students that the district had an entire summer to come up with a COVID-safe recess plan, and decided to stick with the same format the school had in place last year,” Sylvestre said.

She said that two 10minute periods are not the same as the continuous, 25-minute period that existed before the COVID-19 outbreak, and that at least 17 nearby districts that she knows of have full recess.

“Middletown is an innovative and determined district that I know can do better than meeting the bare minimum of state regulations,” Sylvestre said.

Sara Ribnicky, who has a daughter in fourth grade at Lawrence Elementary School, said her daughter spent one of the full 10minute recess periods waiting for a swing to open up. “I think we are doing our children a huge disservice by taking away their ability to have a continuous recess break of 25 minutes,” she said.

Like Sylvestre, she applauded the district for its “proven” ability to provide the best for its students, but said she feels there is a better solution.

“This is a district that knows how to do what’s best for our children. You prove it time and time again,” Ribnicky said. “This is an area where we can absolutely do better.”

Some parents complained that they were led to believe recess time would be extended from what was in place last school year. Bill Perkins, who has a child at Macdonough Elementary School, was one of those who made that point.

“In less than a week, that policy changed,” he said, adding that the recess policy is something the district “should definitely 12345t6ackle and take a different stance on.”

Many of the parents questioned the reasoning behind the policy, and wondered if a lack of staffing had anything to do with it.

Superintendent Michael Conner assured parents the sole reason for the policy is an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He said it’s one of the many efforts in place to achieve the district and state’s overall goal of keeping students in school to learn for the entire year.

“The primary goal, and what we want to do, is ensure we have in-person instruction without any interruptions,” Conner said.

Other school districts in the state have already had to close. “We do not want that here,” Conner said. He also pointed to the fact that pediatric positivity rates across the country have increased in recent weeks.

Conner’s son attends Lawrence Elementary School. He told parents that he understands concerns from those with very active and energetic chilLisa dren, but added he also worries that his son could pass the virus along to his mother, who falls into a higher-risk demographic.

Some board members expressed their desire to revisit the policy.

Dina Ford said she is “100 percent for” having a bigger block of recess. She suggested that perhaps each elementary school could implement a solution that works for it.

Loomis raised the point that the sports activities that take place in the middle and high schools aren’t much different from recess. “I would love to see our administration take another look at our approach to recess,” she said.

Conner said that he would “love to continue to explore” different solutions for this issue but reminded everyone that the main goal is safety.

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