Enfield Superintendent Outlines School Reopening Plan

ENFIELD, CT — At a virtual meeting of the Enfield Board of Education Wednesday, Superintendent of Schools Chris Drezek outlined a plan containing three different models for the re-opening of Enfield Public Schools, submitted last week to the Connecticut Department of Education

The first day of the 2020-21 academic year is now slated for Tuesday, Sept. 8. School officials will be using staggered start and end times to better control student arrivals and dismissals. Enhanced social distancing measures will be put in place, up to 6 feet when possible, but no less than 3 feet. Face coverings are mandatory and will be provided to all students and staff, and there will be enhanced cleaning measures.

Parents who opt out of in-person classes will be provided with a virtual option for their children, including a blend of synchronous and asynchronous instruction. Live-streaming of real-time instruction is being considered for students not physically present in class to have their designated teacher.

Under a hybrid model, students with last names of A-L will have in-person class on Monday and Tuesday with remote learning on Thursday and Friday. Students with the last name of M-Z will have in-person classes on Thursday and Friday with remote learning on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesdays, everyone will be virtual learning for deep cleaning of the buildings. Wednesday remote learning will consist of synchronous learning, as teachers will still be required to conduct in-person classes for those students in attendance each day.

In an effort to facilitate family planning if there are students with different last names in the same household, the district will work with them to get those students on the same in-person/virtual days.

A full distance learning model will include a blend of synchronous and asynchronous instruction and can include live-streaming real-time instruction. A schedule for all students and staff has been created to ensure every student and parent can plan for a rigorous routine in the event full time remote learning is utilized. To ensure equity, school officials have purchased a device for every student in all grades and will make sure families have internet access.

A summary of the reopening plans, posted on the school district website, is available here. A video of Wednesday's meeting may be viewed below.

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