By Jarret Liotta
So far, so good …
Despite a case of COVID-19 on the third day of school — which brought a brief shutdown of Coleytown Elementary School (CES) — Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice reported positive progress to the Board of Education (BOE) tonight regarding the opening of school.
“I’m very, very proud of where we are and it’ll only get better,” he said.
“We’re not without challenges,” he said — among them technology glitches and initial delays with student drop-off and pickup — but overall operations appear fluid and continue to improve.
Even the CES virus case, Scarice said, demonstrated that the protocols in place worked effectively, including communication about what was happening.
“Sometimes that’s not fast enough for people, but we have a process we have to employ,” he said, noting that “the communication will continue and will only get better.”
The subject of a full-time return was broached by a couple of board members — at least at the elementary level, as is being planned in some nearby districts — something many parents are asking about.
“I just feel many, many parents are asking where are we in terms of a plan for a potential reentry full-time, starting with the elementary,” Vice Chair Jeannie Smith said, noting she wanted to give them voice, as the question keeps arising.
Scarice spoke theoretically in favor of a return, but repeated that the decision needed to be driven by health and safety issues, “not driven by loudest voices.”
Regarding the argument that some other nearby districts are planning or engaging in full-time in-person returns, at least for elementary, he pointed out that in Westport, students have been attending four days a week all along, though for shortened days.
“Our elementary kids are in every day right now … I do feel that we’re in a little bit different position there,” he said.
“It’s not a perfect elementary model, but they’re in every day,” he said.
Scarice said that at about the four-week mark he hopes to get a third-party independent review of how mitigating measures are working in the district, and at that time consider phasing in a reopening.
“I can’t see the middle school being in play at least until Coleytown opens up,” he said, but elementary and Staples High School could be considered.
Once again, Scarice stressed a statement commonly repeated among superintendents throughout the region and beyond — that they’re attempting to configure and conduct school during a pandemic, with all that encompasses.
Toward that end, he said, while the numbers continue to be good in Fairfield County regarding virus counts and transmissions — though there was a slight uptick this week — Scarice said the decision was a bit more complicated and included consideration of trends.
“I think a yo-yo effect would not be good for kids,” he said, cautioning that an early return could be suddenly aborted, which would be more harmful in the long run — not only to students and families, but staff as well.
“We have two elementary classes in quarantine right now,” BOE member Lee Goldstein said, speaking in favor of maintaining the course for now.
“I know that some parents aren’t happy about it,” she said, “but I think it’s pretty good.”
Suzanne Levasseur, health services supervisor, expressed several positives regarding mitigation strategies, including students’ use of masks.
“The kids have been wearing the masks and they almost like to wear the masks,” she said.
She also noted that most parents appeared to be exercising caution in keeping kids home when illness symptoms arise.
“They’re taking it very seriously,” she said. “I’m sure there are exceptions and I’ve heard of some, but we’ve had very few sick children in school.”
Asked about virus numbers in adjacent districts — in particular those that are further along with in-person schooling — Levasseur said the state will be starting a database aimed at capturing numbers by district.
“I think that will be interesting,” she said. “And I think they really want to take a look at that data too.”
One main issue that needs addressing is — or at least will be — the need for substitute teachers as the year rolls on.
Toward that end the BOE unanimous approved $287,560 to fund an additional eight permanent building substitutes to the district, as well as raising the daily per diem rate to $130 from $100.
John Bayers, director of human resources and general administration, said it’s a common problem throughout the area, as many former substitutes — in particular those with concerns about getting sick — have chosen not to work in the schools this season.
“The challenge of the subs is an issue,” he said. “It’s something we’re all working at across the districts,” noting he hopes the increase will make Westport more competitive.
An additional building substitute added to each school will bring the total number for the district to 26.
Scarice said he sees this additional expense as “a one-year insurance policy” to help provide classroom coverage.
He shared that even if a staff member is exposed to others outside of school who test positive, it can result in their having to suddenly quarantine for 14 days.
“Forecasting this year is a real challenge,” Scarice said of budgets and staff. “We’ve never done pandemic education before.”
