Superintendent of Schools Chris Melillo shared the latest updated COVID-19 protocols at the Board of Education's December 20 meeting, outlining comparisons to the guidelines in place following the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

Melillo said he was asked to present an overview and found it difficult to compare protocols over the course of the pandemic, so the summer of 2020 was chosen as a reference point. Since 2020, the presentation began, medical professionals have been available at each school and they are still a big help "for the work we do," Melillo said.

"A nurse is available in each school," a slide for the presentation read. "The school nurse manages, in coordination with the local health department, any positive or suspected cases. All school health protocols have been reviewed by the Newtown Health Director and the Newtown Public Schools Director of Nursing."

Case protocols have changed.

In the summer of 2020, according to the presentation, staff and students were asked to stay home if they were ill or if they had tested positive or were showing symptoms of COVID-19; staff and students were asked to stay home if they had come in close contact with a person with COVID-19; and staff and students with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 were asked to only return to school with a documented negative COVID-19 test result or a note from a healthcare provider clearing them to safely return to school.

Currently, staff and students are asked to stay home from school if they are ill and have tested positive for or are showing signs of COVID-19 symptoms, and staff and students who are showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19 are encouraged to get tested.

After saying staff and students do not need a negative test result to return to school, Melillo said the district is asking people to stay home if they are sick.

Notifying families has changed as well.

As Melillo noted, in the summer of 2020, if a child or staff member who had been present in school had a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 the local health department was notified immediately and any other persons who may have been in contact were notified while maintaining confidentiality. Now families who have a child in a classroom with four or more COVID-19 cases are notified.

Protocols for face coverings have changed since the summer of 2020, too. At the time, the presentation shared, all students and school personnel had to wear a face mask while on school property or on a school bus. Face coverings are now optional.

Another noted change is social distancing protocols. Class sizes and teacher to student ratios are currently "normal," according to the presentation.

Transportation COVID-19 protocols have also changed.

In the summer of 2020, the presentation shared, no more than one student could sit per school bus row unless they were from the same household; students were seated no closer than every other row; students were seated in a diagonal formation; and students, drivers, and bus monitors wore masks. Now face masks are optional on school transportation and seating requirements are "normal."

Melillo said throughout the pandemic the school district supported families, and he reflected that many of the programs that were in place for the pandemic, like one to one student to computer ratios, are still in use. Virtual meeting options and implementing air filtration and air purification continue also.

There are still hurdles and obstacles, the superintendent noted, like addressing interrupted learning or "learning loss," supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of students, and staffing shortages.

"We're seeing burnout from our staff because we are lacking substitutes, and we are asking teachers to pick up the load," Melillo said.

Staffing shortages due to illness are impacting "across the board," the superintendent said. He also said the district is "not seeing a large uptick with COVID" but is seeing upticks for flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases.

Schools are also experiencing traffic delays. Melillo explained that many more parents than normal are opting to drive children to school, and the schools were not designed to handle that amount of traffic.

"But otherwise it is good to be back to normal," said Melillo.

When visiting schools and classes, Melillo said he sees "joy." Students and faculty members are enjoying school again. The superintendent also said the pandemic showed the importance of supporting the social aspect of schools along with the academic aspects.

"We learned a lot from COVID. I hope we don't have to go through that learning again," Melillo said near the end of the presentation.

During his Superintendent's Report earlier in the meeting, Melillo said bus driver shortages are continuing due to people calling out sick. All-Star Transportation, the district's main transportation provider, has offered incentives and advertised job openings, he said.

Melillo said All-Star Transportation was not able to hire enough people to cover "call outs due to being sick," and that he appreciates everyone's patience and understanding.

"Our team is constantly looking for options to help improve the situation," said Melillo.

Education Editor Eliza Van can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.