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Back to school, but taking it day by day In-class learning to start, but schools stay COVID cautious By Laura B. Hayden
Checking out under the hood Chris Usher displays his 1999 Z28 Convertible, one of 134 ever produced, during the Cruising with Jackie G car show in Somers. For more photos, see Page 31. Photo by Josh Esan
As the COVID-19 virus affects a third year of school instruction, North Central Connecticut teachers, administrators and staff are using the challenges of the past to create successful classroom practices for the year ahead. And while returning to school is still not anything like it was prior to the pandemic, classrooms are again open for face-to-face instruction, five days a week, based on evidence from last year that the coronavirus did not spread widely inside schools. “We are excited about this school year. Students want to be back in person,” Vernon Assistant Superintendent Robert Testa said. A statement from the Ellington Public Schools assured the school community that the system is “prepared to
meet the 2021-2022 school year head on,” citing its “strong foundation on which to build upon as (they) move to meet the challenges of a new school year.” Like other area school districts, Ellington schools have partnered with community agencies such as the North Central District Health Department, the town, and uses practices and protocols established in the 2020-21 school year as “building blocks its continued success.” Similarly, protocols from the state Department of Education have changed from last year. Despite recent trends in cases driven in large part by the delta variant, local schools are in a different phase of pandemic response. “We know more now,” a number of area school superintendents said. Certain elements of their practices and protocols (e.g. sanitization of surfaces) have been able to be based on information gathered through the past few years about how COVID-19 spreads.
SCHOOLS/page 29
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