Trumbull Schools Starts Unprecedented Year With Some Challenges

TRUMBULL, CT — Trumbull Public Schools started its hybrid learning school year Tuesday, though not without some issues.

Acting Superintendent Ralph Iassogna said during the Board of Education meeting the same day that the school year got off to a good start considering there was still a pandemic. He said the school reopening plan is still a work in progress and changes will be made as necessary.

Frenchtown Elementary School didn’t have power at 7 a.m., but technicians were able to fix the problem within 30 minutes, Iassogna said.

Michael Barker, a Trumbull Board of Finance member said during the meeting that he and his wife opted to have their child start kindergarten at Jane Ryan fully remote. The day started with them only knowing to log on to Google Meet at 8:50 a.m. and that there would be gym at 2 p.m. After a 10-minute meeting with the teacher, they were left not knowing what to do until 2 p.m., he said.

“I know this is hard I know this is unprecedented but if Trumbull Public Schools can’t provide the 9 percent of elementary school students who opted into the temporary remote learning with even a basic schedule for their day, then TPS has failed those students and their parents,” Barker said.

Trumbull Education Association President John Mastrianni said the start of the school year wasn’t easy for teachers and that stress levels are through the roof. Teachers are still learning new technology and teaching techniques.

“Teachers are learning much of this technology and teaching style as we go forward,” he said.

K-2 teachers were asked to learn a new teaching platform in late August, Mastrianni said. It would’ve helped to have that established earlier in the summer so teachers could learn the software. They now have to learn software on top of new teaching duties. There are also some outstanding issues over synchronous learning where teachers have to teach to the in-person students as well as those learning remotely.

There were also some issues over protective measures, including plexiglass not being in all rooms.

“As of right now there is a lack of PPE for teachers in the schools,” he said. “Masks are in limited supply right now and cleaning supplies are not in the classrooms.”

Iassogna said that not every classroom has plexiglass because some teachers didn’t want it. There is also a supply of cleaning supplies and PPE, he said.

“Although we may not have everything that other districts have, they don’t have what we have, you can’t compare districts,” he said, noting that Trumbull had a more robust custodial staff to conduct deep cleanings than other nearby districts.

“We’ve met all the requirements all the health and wellness requirements,” he said.

There were some other issues such as a couple of overcrowded buses, but those issues were being worked out, Iassogna said.

He also reminded parents and educators that there will be a need for flexibility as the situation changes; he mentioned how Danbury Public Schools had to go full remote due to an uptick of cases in the city.