Emily Hays Photo
Board Prez Rivera: Thought votes were in place to change plan.
New Haven Public Schools still plan to start the academic year with 10 weeks of remote learning — at least for now.
That was the result of a four-hour Board of Education meeting Monday night at which an alternative plan for a step-by-step in-person phase-in was seriously considered, then not voted on.
New Haven is the only school district in Connecticut not starting the school year with at least some in-person classes, as officials wrestle with how best to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Most of the New Haven board members Monday night were ready to vote for the phased-in approach, which would start in-school classes for younger students, English learners and students with special needs on Sept. 14.
But board members Tamiko Jackson-McArthur, Darnell Goldson and student representative Anthony Fiore still wanted more assurance that all students and staff would be safe if they return to school. And their colleagues decided not to proceed with a new plan passed by a narrow margin.
“Because the board is not on the same page, let’s go with 10 weeks of remote learning. Otherwise, we have families and teachers who continue to have this uncertainty,” said Mayor Justin Elicker, who is also a voting member of the Board of Education.
The issue has sharply divided the city. Some groups have passionately argued that low-income students in particular need to be in school to learn and can do so safely with Covid-19 rates currently at a low point. Others passionately argue that the school system is not equipped to offer a safe environment for students and teachers.
Meanwhile, the school board’s ongoing meetings and reconsiderations have left familiies and teachers on edge about how to prepare for classes set to begin in two weeks.
The Board of Education has voted twice already this August to reopen schools virtually until the end of the first marking period.
Board members thought that decision was contingent on state approval of New Haven’s plans. In a meeting last week, however, state Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona said that he would honor New Haven’s decision.
At the same time, his team asked whether New Haven would be able to conduct remote learning well for all students. Cardona offered additional help and information to clear up board members’ concerns.
The four non-student board members who first voted to start the year with remote learning worked with the state and Superintendent Iline Tracey to outline what would satisfy their concerns about the safety of in-person school.
Board President Yesenia Rivera put the new phased-in approach on the meeting agenda Monday night. She said she thought there was universal support for it after conversations with all board members.
“I thought tonight we were going to get a checklist that talked about the proper preparation,” said Tamiko Jackson-McArthur. “Teachers are getting tested on this date, buildings are ready by this date, we bring in our young and Special Education students at this date. Where did that go?”
Ed Joyner, who like Jackson-McArthur was one of the original votes for a remote start, said that he saw those assurances in the phased-in plan — for example, board members, union leadership and health professionals would tour buildings to verify that they meet Center for Disease Control and Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) standards.
“If buildings are not ready, we’re not going to put people in them,” Joyner said.
The phased-in plan also represented movement on safety concerns board members, teachers and parents had raised before. The teacher’s union is open to requiring Covid-19 tests for teachers, Tracey said. Students and other staff members would get tested too.
The district now has 200,000 face masks for teachers and is working on providing masks to students. The district is also posting job openings for more bus monitors to make sure young students keep their masks on.
Larry Conaway, another board member who had voted for the remote plan, said after the meeting that he was prepared to support the phased-in approach, but the vote never happened.
In the public comment section of the meeting, teachers asked for certainty on what to expect in the few days and weeks. The phased-in approach said teachers would report on Wednesday for professional development. (Tracey later said this could be flexible.)
“I can’t get an Amazon package in two days these days, but we’re given less than 48 hours to become an active teacher. We’re not per diem performers. We’re professionals. We plan,” said High School in the Community English teacher Jennifer Sarja.
Nearly all of the public commenters asked the board to stick to their 10 week plan. Several read from a New Haven Public Schools Advocates checklist of safety measures that the activist group would like to see in place before schools reopen.
Board members said that they may reach a compromise at either a future special or regular board meeting.
So that means families and teachers can probably plan for school to open on an all-remote basis — but not necessarily for that to remain the case for the full ten weeks.
“I would say that they should plan for the 10 weeks, but if the administration develops a plan for a earlier return that we can all agree is a ‘safety first’ plan, then perhaps that can be reduced,” board member Darnell Goldson said after the meeting.