Wallingford Sees Drop In Middle School, High School COVID Cases

WALLINGFORD, CT — Wallingford Superintendent Salvatore Menzo said Tuesday that he would consider bringing the town’s middle school and high school students back to in-person learning sooner than expected if a recent trend in coronavirus cases continues.

The Wallingford Board of Education voted last week to close the town's high schools and middle schools for full distance learning until Jan. 19. Lyman Hall and Sheehan both switched to full distance learning at the beginning of November due to a lack of staff to provide in-person instruction because of the continued impact of quarantining.

Dag Hammarskjold and Moran middle schools started their distance learning schedules on Monday.

Menzo said the district has recently experienced a “significant reduction” in middle school and high school coronavirus cases. In addition, with Gov. Ned Lamont shutting down all student sports activities until Jan. 19, Menzo said there is “less likely of previous cases attributed to such activities impacting our schools.”

“I am hopeful this is the new positive trend,” Menzo said in an email to parents. “If this is the trend that we experience upon returning from Thanksgiving break, I would consider bringing back middle school and high school students and staff sooner than January 19. All students desperately need the social interaction and connections with their peers and teachers. We will monitor this closely to see if there is a Thanksgiving effect. If not, I will provide the Board of Education with the data for their consideration. In addition, I will keep all families and staff posted.”

Also, as many are approaching this week with mixed feelings for celebrating a non-traditional Thanksgiving amid a pandemic, Menzo shared the following thoughts with staff heading into Thursday:

Thanksgiving is upon us. Yes, it will be very different than usual. This year's Powder Puff is delayed. There is no Thanksgiving Day football game. Families may be sharing the day virtually. However, the meaning of the day does not need to be lost as well. Thanksgiving is a day that transcends all others in that the message is simple - to be grateful. Now, many of us may be wondering how there is anything in 2020 for which we would want to be thankful. I can understand that. Many things were taken from us. Traditional graduations, sports seasons, specials events, vacations, and countless daily activities that have been altered.

But in the end, we are still here to list them and even maybe complain about them. While so many have been sick or lost loved ones, we are here to be able to be grateful. As has been reported this week, the vaccine looks promising. A spring or early summer distribution may be probable. There is hope. There is a light at the end of this dark tunnel of COVID-19 that we can all see if we do what we need to do now. We need to not let the fatigue of the vigilance against the virus take hold of us and allow us to succumb to it. Rather, we need to double down on our efforts so that this spring can be greeted with more normalcy, and that our next school year can be like we once remembered before March 13.

I know you are probably reading this with a lot of “buts” and “howevers” running through your mind. I also know some may be planning to celebrate Thanksgiving the exact same way they always have done. I am old enough to know that will be the case. However, I am wise enough to also know that there will most likely be impact to those decisions for individuals and groups. So while I cannot tell anyone what to do, I just say this. Please be grateful for what you do have while being thoughtful as to the actions taken to protect yourself and loved ones so that next year can be one filled with stuffing and sweet potato casserole that tastes better than ever.