With Newtown Public School students expected to return to schools in January — with the younger grades returning first — the Board of Education learned of COVID-19 related expenses, impacts to staffing, and heard from parents at its December 15 virtual meeting.

District Director of Business Tanja Vadas said the district’s budget is “basically carrying” COVID-19-related expenses. There are areas that have not been fully expended and there will be some savings. A net amount of $1.8 million is included in the budget, she shared.

Vadas said some expenses will fluctuate over time, and some savings are expected due to COVID-19-related reimbursements.

“Our total cost for the COVID-related items are $2.2 million with an offset of $380,000, which is the Corona Relief Grant, which leaves us at a net of $1.873 (million),” Vadas explained.

Later when reviewing the monthly financial report for November with the board, Vadas shared the district will be requesting the transfer of funds from the town’s capital non-recurring account to restore Board of Education sub-accounts that have been diminished due to COVID-19-related expenses.

The financial report reads in part, “The overall year end position has changed from (a positive) $13,024 to (negative) $399,303.”

Along with COVID-19 expenses, the financial report highlighted the Excess Cost Grant, which reimburses some special education-related costs, was recalculated and is expected to provide fewer funds than were budgeted, by about $280,000.

“It’s a complex financial report these days because of the differences in expectations,” Board of Education Chair Michelle Embree Ku reflected.

K-6 Planned To Return In Full January 4

During a COVID-19 update portion of the meeting, Superintendant of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue explained that the current plan — which she also explained in an e-mail to parents and staff earlier that day (see page B-3 of this issue) — is to have kindergarten to sixth grade students return to full in-school learning on January 4 “and shortly thereafter for seven to 12.”

“We will continue to review our classroom space and lunch distribution,” Dr Rodrigue told board members. The plan includes having middle school and high school students finish the day with remote classes after dismissing from buildings for a lunch break.

Dr Rodrigue also shared that the plan honors contracted obligations for staff.

“As far as a return, we were clear that we needed staff,” Dr Rodrigue said, sharing that “the amount of quarantining of key staff needs to be addressed when it comes to coverage.”

Later in the meeting, Rodrigue shared that the district added more building substitutes at the start of the year and those additional positions were not enough to cover the eventual need for coverage. As cases of COVID-19 climbed locally, she said, the number of available substitutes and paraeducators available and needed were impacted. Other districts are facing the same kinds of staffing hurdles, Dr Rodrigue added, and the recent relaxation of certain state requirements is allowing more people to apply for those positions. Dr Rodrigue said parents and local community members are responding to that need.

Health District Director Donna Culbert also spoke at the meeting, sharing that “most of what we can and can’t do” depends on human behavior. While she said schools are a safe environment for students with the mitigation practices in place, the situation Newtown recently faced involved quarantining members of the community. She highlighted work by school nurses for developing efficient response practices to potential cases. While Culbert said she hopes the community can “stay on top of it” she wants people to be aware that a peak in cases is anticipated for mid-January.

Parents Voice Concerns, Want Students In Schools

A number of parents spoke during the meeting, sharing concerns about the quality of education in the remote learning model and about local quarantine practices. While one person said the current remote learning model is not sustainable, another parent questioned whether the district’s quarantining practices were “reckless” by impacting too many people.

One parent suggested a “scientific team” could be established to research the nature of the virus and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations. The team, she said, could help quarantine practices reflect mitigation efforts and have a more dynamic response to the pandemic while utilizing local expertise.

Parent Liza Leuallen said her main concerns stem from a “historical lack of transparency from this Board of Education.” Saying she is part of a growing group of parents concerned about the impact and “degradation of students’ emotional status, academic standing, and overall wellness your blanket decisions are making on them.” Over 200 families share her concerns, Leuallen said.

“I don’t understand how a group of educated adults voted into positions we rely on to keep the best interests of our school system in place can be so flippant in response and responsibility,” Leuallen said, questioning a lack of creativity around the “staffing issue.” Later she said, “Our children need to be in school. All children, not just (kindergarten through sixth grade) come January 4.”

Parent Janet Kuzma said she also recently discovered the group of parents who share her concerns regarding the quality of remote learning when compared to in-person learning. She encouraged the board to “do whatever it takes to keep the schools open” and allow parents the choice of in-person learning.