Board Of Ed. Discusses COVID-19 Protocols During Special Meeting

GREENWICH, CT — The Greenwich Board of Education discussed the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines that will be in place for the upcoming school year during a special meeting on Monday night.

Superintendent of Greenwich Public Schools Dr. Toni Jones said last year's plan has carried over into 2021-2022 "with some slight adjustments."

Masking, PPE & Distancing

"We do have the mask mandate which is by the governor's order. So we will have that at least through Sept. 30 as of today," Jones said. "We're still socially distant. As a reminder last year, we used the American Pediatric Association recommendation of three feet, where some other districts did not. This has not changed for us. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and everyone has come out and said three feet where feasible."

The board will meet on Aug. 26 to vote on the district's mask policy, which provides more clarity to families as to what is and isn't a mask, on what conditions they're required, and what the exemptions are.

Board member and Policy Governance Chair Christina Downey said the policy expired at the end of last school year.

Jones pointed out that the school district has reordered about 175,000 pieces of Personal Protective Equipment, such as masks, which are available in every building and classroom, and hand sanitizer.

"It's about restocking all of those things that help everyone feel a little safer," Jones said.

Remote Learning, Quarantining & Cohorting

Board member and Secretary Karen Hirsh asked Jones about remote learning during quarantine.

Jones noted that per state legislation, full remote learning is not permitted this year.

"If we as a school district are quarantining a student then we can still give them access. We'll still have the web camera for grades six through 12," Jones said. "For kindergarten through fifth grade, it will look like it did last year; it's either the teacher live with the students, or if it's just a handful of students they're working with those families individually like they did last year."

The hope is that classrooms will look like the reverse of last year, Jones said, in that the only students who should be on the webcam are those students who are quarantined by the district, and not students who decided to stay home on any given day.

Quarantine rules are different for this school year, said Mary Keller, Supervisor of School Health Programs.

For unvaccinated people, if exposure occurs in the classroom (stationary seating) at greater than three feet with masking, quarantine is not required. At less than three feet, quarantine is necessary for seven days, with a test on day five or later. If negative, that person can return on day eight.

All others (not classroom students) exposed at six feet with or without a mask will quarantine for seven days with a test on day five. A negative test returns them on day eight.

If tests are declined, quarantine lasts for 10 days.

For quarantined people, for exposure less than three feet, or at six feet for non-students, with or without a mask, no quarantine is needed, but a test is required on days three, four and five. A mask must also be worn for 14 days post exposure.

Testing will not be mandatory for students who are not eligible for the vaccine yet in grades K-6, but Keller said earlier this month the district is working closely with the state to provide testing to students and staff who want it.

Jones said cohorting will still take place, mostly for contact tracing purposes.

"It's probably the most important in our elementary level where we don't have the vaccine, and little ones are more difficult on playground scenarios. We are a little bit looser in middle school," Jones explained.

For example, at Eastern Middle School last school year, there were nine different cohorts which impacted students' elective schedules.

"This year, we're going by grade and team and we're able to have more of a normal elective schedule," Jones added.

School Transportation

Busing in the school district will look similar to 2020-2021. Parents are encouraged, if they're able, to drop their children at school to keep the numbers down on buses.

Students are required to wear a mask on the bus.

"We have reset the protocols at the request of many of our parents that we reinforce that the bus drivers have the windows down," Jones said. Social distancing will also be in effect.

Travel Protocols

For fully vaccinated students who travel domestically on vacation, Keller said the CDC currently recommends no quarantine or testing.

Unvaccinated people are asked to take a test on day three, four and five and quarantine for seven days for domestic travel.

For international travel, everyone who goes on an internationa flight is asked to test before they get back on the plane or before they leave their place of vacation and come back. They're asked to test again on day three to five once they return, and to quarantine for seven days after they've returned.

Food Service

Greenwich Public Schools is still adhering to the United States Department of Agriculture guidance where all meals are provided at no cost, which includes breakfast and lunch.

Jones hopes the partnership with Neighbor to Neighbor to deliver meals around town continues permanently.

Music

Board member Karen Kowalski asked what the music and chorus programs will look like. Jones said they should be similar to 2019, with the exception of PPE use.

Sports

Jones said sports are looking "pretty much back to normal" for the fall.

"When children are at recess and at sports they don't have to wear a mask outside. If they're inside, then there are certain times they would wear a mask," Jones said.