Lamont Gives More Guidance On School Reopening

CONNECTICUT — Many Connecticut schools will resume in-person classes within the next couple of weeks, but some questions remain unanswered, particularly when it comes to when a classroom, school building or entire school district would have to go remote.

State Department of Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona said the state is aiming to provide guidance by the end of next week regarding certain scenarios and thresholds when a class, portion of a building or an entire building would have to go remote again. SDE is also meeting with districts to go over some other reopening planning guidance.

Connecticut’s metrics continue to support reopening in-person classrooms, Gov. Ned Lamont said. The state is looking at a county-by-county basis on the rate of infections per 100,000 population with 10 infections out of 100,000 being the breaking point where school plans would have to be reconsidered. As of Thursday the state’s average is 2.1; Fairfield County has the highest rate at 3.3, mainly due to a flare-up in Danbury, Lamont said.

“If there is an infection detected in that third grade class then yes that class and that teacher would quarantine for a period of time,” Lamont said. “But it wouldn’t necessarily affect the rest of the entire school for example.”

Connecticut’s largest teacher union has recommended that the state push back reopening to mid-September to avoid potentially hot weather and high humidity, which could complicate mask compliance among students.

About 55 percent of school districts are planning for full in-person learning while 44 percent are opting for a hybrid model. New Haven Public Schools is opting for a remote start for at least the first 10 weeks of school.

Coinciding with the K-12 school reopening is the reopening of residential colleges. Already there have been a couple of snafus at University of Connecticut. The university’s football team is hitting pause on practices after six players tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the Hartford Courant. The school also revoked housing for students who were caught on video partying in a crowded dorm room with no masks.

Still, Lamont said he is cautiously optimistic colleges can reopen safely so long as guidelines are followed and robust testing continues.

See also: Ex-Trump Adviser Arrested By Feds On Yacht Anchored Off Connecticut

• Adversity Aside, Business Dream Comes True For Connecticut Native
• Time Running Out On CT Lottery Ticket Worth $100,000