Schools Super McMorran Talks 180-Day Waiver, Distance Learning

EASTON/REDDING, CT — Easton, Redding and Region 9 Schools Superintendent Tom McMorran emailed a letter to parents on Friday night addressing questions raised by Governor Ned Lamont's "180 day school waiver."

On Thursday, Lamont issued an emergency order that requires that schools be in session for 180 days or by June 30 at the latest. This means that if a school has not been in session for 180 days by June 30, the school district has the authority to make that date the last day of the school year. A number of districts are planning to submit a waiver attestation to the State that would allow them to experiment with conducting school days remotely.

Related: Coronavirus Easton & Redding: Schools Prepare, Make Tough Choices

In his letter to parents, McMorran drilled down into some of the finer points and stickier wickets surrounding distance learning in Easton, Redding and Region 9 Schools.

Schools Superintendent Tom McMorran: "Easton, Redding, and Region 9 teams of teachers and administrators will be exploring the possibility of submitting a waiver to the State. However, before we do so there are specific questions that must be answered:

1. If we undertake remote instruction, can we ensure that all households will have Internet access and computers, laptops or tablets that will support such an approach? I can tell you that the answer at this point is no. There are homes without Internet access or hardware. We are looking into how the Districts would provide in such situations.
2. If we undertake remote instruction, are we able to provide compliant equity of learning for all students with special needs? This is a very big question. With nearly 15% of our student population eligible for special services, we have to fully examine the feasibility of complying with all laws. At the moment, the guidance we have received from the State and the Bureau of Special Services is that we should not pursue the waiver. We will, however, continue to explore the possibility.
3. If we undertake remote instruction, can we meet all of our legal contractual obligations to our staff, faculty, and administrators? You may not be aware that our three districts' employees are members of ten different Unions or Associations. We have contracts with different teachers associations as well as support staff and custodial unions and administrator unions. We also have service providers, certain administrators, and office staff under individual contracts. Our employees are valuable and have many rights protecting their working conditions. Part of our diligence is to ensure we will continue to honor all legal commitments.

I will not continue to enumerate additional topics we must explore. We will make a good-faith effort to determine if we have the means to submit the waiver to the State."

In his letter, McMorran also urged parents to encourage their children to spend some portion of each day in reading or other content-related activities, and to practice "social distancing," to reduce the likelihood of virus transmission.

"It is accurate to say that we are in unprecedented times. The last time schools in America were closed as part of a public health strategy was 1918. Being a student of American literature and history, I urge us to take lessons from our past," McMorran said.

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