Lamont Again Makes Push For In-School Learning In Connecticut

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont continued to pitch in-person school learning on Tuesday as the state is only weeks away from the start of the school year. Lamont appeared at Pearson Middle School in Winchester, which plans to have full in-person learning this fall.

Around 76 percent of parents in the district plan to send their children back to the classroom this year, Winchester schools superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley said.

Lamont had made several pitches in the past week to get kids back into the classroom. He appeared on CBS’s Face the Nation Sunday to say he didn’t want students to lose a year of schooling, especially for students who don’t log on for distance learning.

Connecticut is making $266 million available for school districts this fall. The state purchased thousands of laptops for students and established a fund to help support broadband internet access in homes.

School districts in Connecticut can opt to have full in-person or hybrid learning at the start of the school year. They can also apply for a waiver from the state Department of Education for full remote learning.

The New Haven Board of Education voted to start with 10 weeks of remote learning in September, according to the New Haven Independent.

“I think those kids ought to have an in-classroom option don’t tell them they can’t go to the class if their parents feel that would be best for them,” Lamont said at his Tuesday news conference.

New Haven will have to discuss that with SDE Commissioner Miguel Cardona, Lamont said.

Lamont said he continues to lead with public health as his priority and that parents will have the option to let their children continue with remote learning if they don’t feel the situation is safe.

“If Connecticut can’t get their kids back into the classroom safely, no state can,” he said.

The governor said he wouldn’t allow schools to reopen if they were in a coronavirus hot spot like southern Florida, Texas, Phoenix or South-Central Los Angeles.

However, Connecticut will have to prepare for a potential quick pivot later in the school year if coronavirus activity picks up in the state, Lamont said. School districts had to submit plans for full remote learning to the SDE.

See also: U.S. Congressional Candidate Charged On Eve Of Primary In Connecticut: Cops

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