Fairfield Parents Rally, Call For Detailed School Reopening Plan

FAIRFIELD, CT — After the coronavirus pandemic reached Connecticut, Amber French pulled her children out of the Fairfield school district and enrolled them in private school.

“They’re not getting a proper education in the Fairfield Public School system,” she said.

French was among a crowd of parents and students who gathered Monday on Sherman Green for a rally to demand a more detailed plan for a full reopening of Fairfield schools. Those present carried signs, with messages such as “Our kids miss their teachers” and “School is the safest place to be.” Organizers estimated about 80 people attended.

The event was held the same day Fairfield elementary school buildings were scheduled to begin transitioning to a full reopening. The district last month pulled back on its reopening plan and opted to continue using a hybrid model after the town was briefly placed in the state's red alert zone for coronavirus infections.

“It feels like we are hopelessly in this cycle that is currently failing our children,” parent Crissy Kelly said.

In front of a microphone at the base of the gazebo on the green, parents made their case one by one for a clearer plan outlining how and when students will return to the classroom full time.

They noted many schools in Connecticut are open full time, in-school transmission rates are low, and students who learn remotely spend more time on electronics and are at risk for mental health issues.

One parent said many children are already chancing virus exposure at play dates and sports practices. Another referenced recent data from the district that showed 88 percent of elementary parents would choose full-time classroom learning over the district's remote learning academy or remote synchronous learning.

“It’s their constitutional right to be in school,” parent Gloria Mauro said.

Several students took the microphone to share why they want to be back in the classroom full time, with some citing the difficulties of online learning.

Parents Sally and Damien Connolly work outside their home, which means their children are alone sometimes. Their youngest is in fifth grade and their oldest is a high school junior, Sally said, adding their son in high school has a rigorous course schedule and can’t always be expected to babysit.

The children are — literally — “left to their own devices,” she said, without the instructional resources they need. The family considered private school for their fifth-grader.

“My kids need more help” Sally said.

In October, a letter signed by more than 300 Fairfield families was submitted to school officials requesting an immediate return to full-time, in-person learning. An online petition in August seeking a full-time classroom option received nearly 800 signatures.

However, Andrea Clark, director of communications for the district, noted in an email Friday there are 3,500 families with students enrolled in Fairfield Public Schools, and many parents have said they trust the district’s decisions. One such parent is Ann Harvey, who emailed Patch ahead of the rally.

“I do not believe that the views of this group represent the views of the majority of FPS parents,” she said. “I do not believe their demands for specific and particular information that meets their individual requirements is appropriate. I do emphatically believe this district and our professionals continue to be transparent and accountable. All voices are being heard.”

Superintendent Mike Cummings told parents last month the state changed its instructions regarding learning model decisions, directing districts to consider 14-day data windows instead of one-week windows, and to include town-specific data, as opposed to the previously required county data.

Cummings has said there is no “universal green light” for a full reopening, and has instead cited the need for a decreasing trend that demonstrates the spread of the virus is under control.

As of Thursday, Fairfield was in the state's orange coronavirus zone, with an average daily rate of 14.9 cases, according to state data. The red zone range is at least 15 cases per day. On Oct. 22, the day the school district pulled back on its reopening plan, the town's daily case rate was 19.6.

Cummings is scheduled to give another update on reopening plans at the School Board’s meeting at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.