Madison Looks To Full In-Person K-8 Classes Next Week

MADISON, CT — In a message to families, the interim schools superintendent said that as long as the state's COVID-19 infection rates remain in the "low-risk range," the plan is to host full, in-person Kindergarten to grade 8 classes beginning Oct. 8.

JeanAnn C. Paddyfote said based on the infection rate remaining low as reported by the state's Covid-19 Data Tracker, "We will move to our next phase of reopening."

The transition from hybrid to full in-person elementary, intermediate and middle school students, means five days of in-person instruction. "When we are full in-person our desks will be between three feet to six feet apart," Paddyfoote wrote adding all students will have access to a desk shield.

Students who have opted for voluntary remote learning will be allowed to continue in that model and pick up packets at their schools in the outdoor bins. While students are in person, teachers will not prepare a weekly planner.

Parents who elect to change from remote learning to in person should provide the school with five days notice to allow the school and teacher to prepare the room for another student. Likewise, anyone electing to move to remote learning and not continue to full in-person instruction should provide the same notice to their child’s school.

Bus transportation is available to all students. Many parents have chosen to drive their children to school, and we want you to know school transportation is available and safe. The following mitigation strategies are in place on our buses: students load from the rear to the front, they must wear masks, and they sit facing the front of the bus. Currently, bus ridership is very low and we hope more families will choose bus transportation as an option. As we get closer to October 8, each school principal will work provide guidance about parent arrival and dismissal times for students not riding the bus.

What's the plan at Hand?

Students at Daniel Hand High School will continue in the hybrid model.

"We will continue to assess the effectiveness of the hybrid model in Grades 9-12 and will provide an update next week regarding the transition to the next phase of reopening," she said.