Petition Seeks Full-Time Return To School In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — Hundreds have signed a petition asking Fairfield schools to offer a full-time in-person learning option when students return to class.

As of early Saturday morning, the online petition, started by Maria McKeon, had nearly 700 signatures. School officials recently announced plans to start the year with a hybrid model after the previous academic year ended with students learning from home amid the spread of the coronavirus. In addition to the hybrid model, the school district will offer a full-time remote learning option.

“The proposed hybrid (part-time in class) and full-time distance learning options do not adequately meet the needs and address the differing views of all families in the district,” the petition said. “We feel the needs of the family with working parents are being forgotten.”

The petition, which cited the recommendations of a national pediatric organization, argued that as long as local coronavirus rates remain low, students should have the choice to spend five days a week in a classroom environment. The petition requests full-time in-person students learn in cohorts and follow safety protocols such as social distancing and mask wearing.

“Parents should have the ability to weigh the health risks posed by distance learning against the risk of possible exposure to COVID-19,” the petition said, arguing remote learning compromises the quality of education students receive and is detrimental to their mental, emotional and physical health.

Distance learning is also unreasonable or impossible for some district families, the petition said.

However, superintendent Mike Cummings said a full-time classroom option isn’t possible for the district.

“The school system takes the concerns of parents very seriously. We also have other concerns which we need to prioritize,” Cummings said in an email. “… We cannot have full attendance in our schools and meet expectations for social distancing.”

The district’s back-to-school plan calls for elementary students to spend half of each day in the classroom, while middle and high school students will learn in-person two days a week. Student schedules will be split between the classroom and remote learning.

“We will review the hybrid decision in late September. If we can meet the social distancing expectations and the health data remains strong we will bring students back full time,” Cummings said in the email. “In the meantime we are working on different options to support parents and we will send that information as soon as we can.”

The Wakeman Boys & Girls Club has plans to provide before- and after-school care, as well as remote learning assistance, the club said in a Facebook post Tuesday.

Coronavirus case numbers in Fairfield have been low in recent weeks. In the past month, the town increased from a total of 668 confirmed or probable cases July 21 to 733 on Friday, according to state data.

Students return to school Sept. 8. For more information about reopening plans, visit bit.ly/2XR7Z7t or bit.ly/33S87Hm.