'Why Now?' Some In Stratford Oppose 4-Day In-Person School Week

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford community members spoke Monday against the school district’s plan to bring elementary students back to the classroom four days a week.

The school board last week made plans to vote on the proposal Monday, but when the day of the expected vote came, Chair Allison DelBene said it was up to the superintendent to decide to double the amount of time elementary schoolers spend learning in-person, and that the board would not vote on the matter.

Superintendent Janet Robinson intends next month to increase the number of days students are in the classroom from two days per week to four, with Wednesday remaining a remote learning day amid the coronavirus pandemic. Community members, however, had reservations Monday about the plan.

“We don’t know what will happen when fully in school, and I’m not sure it’s worth the gamble,” said Stratford resident Lisa Jackson, suggesting the district instead focus on improving its existing hybrid and remote learning models.

Robinson’s plan would see kindergarteners, first-graders and English learners shift to four days a week in-person Nov. 16, with all elementary students making the switch by the end of November. Members of the public Monday questioned the timing of the plan, citing rising coronavirus case numbers.

“Why now?” asked Stratford Education Association President Michael Fiorello. “It’s not the metrics, it’s not the projections and it’s certainly not the teachers on the front lines driving the decision.”

Stratford’s most recent daily coronavirus rate is 5.2 cases per 100,000 people, according to state data, up from a rate of four cases per 100,000 people two weeks prior.

Multiple speakers referenced an email sent Friday by Robinson to the district community that said children were not succeeding with online learning, a statement that education association Elementary Vice President Robin Julian called, “a slap in the face to all of the hard work elementary teachers have been doing.”

Julian also expressed concern about a lack of classroom materials, insufficient cleaning in schools and the use of supplementary learning areas for classes with student overflow, a topic with which several speakers took issue.

Five or fewer classrooms are expected to require the supplementary areas, according to Harold Greist, STEM coordinator for grades seven through 12.

Board member Karen Rodia brought up the large number of school community members — more than 100 — who have had to quarantine in recent weeks due to virus exposure, but Vice Chair Amy Wiltsie said the quarantines were “overly cautious.”

“I feel very confident that the safest place for my children right now is in school,” she said.

Robinson noted that only four district students had contracted the virus so far, later adding that students face other risks. School officials are alerted when students visit dangerous websites, and have received many recent notifications about students researching suicide, according to Robinson.

“Our job is to protect those kids,” she said. “… I’m really emotional about this because I am concerned.”

Other issues raised by Robinson included inequitability in online learning and a reduction of reports to the Department of Children and Families.

“The reporters, who are us, are not in contact with kids,” she said.

Earlier in the meeting, board member Janice Cupee questioned why the board was no longer voting on the district’s four-day plan.

“I don’t know why this should go through without our input,” she said.

DelBene responded that the decision was up to Robinson.

“This, right now, is just a plan to reopen,” board member Robert DeLorenzo said. “It gives everyone a date, but can anyone predict the dates with COVID? … Everyone is doing the best they can to be fair.”