Greenwich Public Schools Answers Questions On COVID-19

GREENWICH, CT — Officials from Greenwich Public Schools updated parents during an hour-long question and answer session on Monday night about the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines that will be in place on the first day of school, which is scheduled for Sept. 1.

Over 170 questions were submitted from parents prior to the forum, which took place via Zoom, and featured Superintendent of GPS Dr. Toni Jones; Deputy Superintendent Dr. E. Ann Carabillo; Director of Curriculum and Leadership K-8 Marc D'Amico; Supervisor of School Health Programs Mary Keller; and the district's medical advisor Dr. Katherine Noble.

Jones said school is scheduled to begin on time, however, she reminded parents that the district is "driven by state decisions" from the Connecticut Department of Education, CT Department of Health, and Gov. Ned Lamont's Executive Orders.

"They can always make a change a week or two before school that could change that [start date] by a couple of days," Jones said.

Jones said that the district will continue to be transparent in sharing information and updates with the community.

"Just as we did last year, we will continue to be as transparent as possible so that all of our families understand what is happening with COVID, not only the individual notes that we will send to the schools, to the staff, but also with our COVID tracker again this year," Jones said.

To keep up to date with COVID-19 information in the school district, click here.

Masking In Schools

Lamont's Executive Order that mandates masks in schools is effective through Sept. 30. On Tuesday, Lamont signaled there would be no immediate end to the order.

When asked why students who are fully vaccinated have to wear masks, Keller pointed to the possibility of breakthrough infections.

"We have our children wear these masks because breakthrough infections do occur, and we still have asymptomatic carriers of infection. Although we're hoping that at some point in time this will change, right now, in the best interest of all the children, we ask everyone to wear masks," she said. Masks will be made available to those who need them.

Mask exemptions will be available for students with medical or behavioral conditions, or a disability. A form for mask exemptions is available on the GPS website.

Noble reiterated that although children tend to either have no symptoms or mild infections with COVID-19, the risk for serious complications remains.

"There is that very small but significant risk of life-threatening complications from COVID that do exist in children," Noble said. "Very importantly, children do spread the infection. They spread it to one another, they spread it also to teachers and potentially to other relatives who may be at risk. I really still think this is something to be taken very seriously in children."

Jones added that the district will continue to rely on health professionals since the COVID-19 landscape changes week to week.

"I think if we've learned anything over the last year-and-a-half, every week can be different, every month can be different," Jones said. "The one thing we have relied on heavily are our health professionals to help us make those decisions about how to keep our schools and our children the safest, and we'll continue to do that," Jones said.

No Hybrid/Remote Options For 2021-2022

The state legislature decided hybrid/remote learning will not be an option this year, unless Lamont issues an Executive Order saying otherwise. If a student gets sent home to quarantine, they'll have school work to do in their Google classroom, Jones said. If an entire classroom gets sent home for health reasons, remote teaching can take place because it's a "forced quarantine situation."

Jones hopes legislators reconsider how snow days will work.

"I can see on the first day we have a snow day letting our kids go out and just play and being young people and children, but if we have a week where we're out school, I hope we don't lose the really good aspects we learned about COVID because we can do remote learning really, really well," Jones said.

Homeschooling is an option, Jones noted, but doing so would unenroll a student from the school district.

Vaccinations

Vaccines are not mandatory for eligible students and staff. When vaccinations are available for students under 12 years old, Keller said the district will help students and families get access.

"I would anticipate that we're going to do the same partnership as we did successfully when we vaccinated the teachers and other students, that we would set up a partnership either with the state or with a local health center to vaccinate children and make it available to everyone who wants it," Keller said.

The school district will be asking families within the next week or so to email their school nurse to let them know if their child is vaccinated or not. Staff will also have to do the same.

"That is because whether you're vaccinated or unvaccinated, it makes a difference in the length of quarantine. If a family or staff member chooses not to respond, that's their prerogative. However, if they don't respond, they're assumed unvaccinated, which is the longer quarantine," Jones remarked.

Students will not be separated in the classroom based on vaccination status, and they will not be questioned if they're vaccinated or not.

As of Aug. 12 in Greenwich, according to the State of Connecticut, 77.46 percent of those ages 12-17 have been vaccinated, or 4,221 of a total 5,449 population.

Quarantining And Cohorting

Quarantine rules are different for vaccinated and unvaccinated students and staff.

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 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 the district is working closely with the state to provide testing to students and staff.

Unlike last year, there will be no cohorting this year because school will be in-person for all. Carabillo noted that social distancing will still be in place at three feet apart in classrooms, and students will follow the same traffic patterns as they did last year.

To view the entire Zoom meeting, click here.