Botelle Beat

by Clinton J. Sosna

“We educators are planners. We are very good at planning,” says school superintendent Mary Beth Iacobelli, expressing the frustration she feels, in mid-June, with still no official word from the state on how Norfolk’s school should proceed in the fall. It’s a waiting game, filled with unresolved questions concerning the busing of children, social distancing protocols, personal protection, adequate nursing staff and at-home learning. 

The current state regulation on school bus seating calls for placing students in every other row, one student per row. But with seventy-five students anticipated at Botelle, the three small buses the school normally hires would be inadequate. Transportation under these requirements is logistically and financially unworkable, and it is uncertain whether the number of buses required would be available even if funding could be found. This is a major issue, since the majority of the children rely on bus transport to get to school. 

Another pressing issue the superintendent faces is the resignation of both a school nurse and a paraprofessional. A nurse is required to be on-site every day that students are in attendance, and the school relies on its paraprofessionals. To be down by one is a concern. 

Iacobelli is confident that Botelle will easily be able to adhere to six-foot distancing rules. “It is fortunate that we have the large spaces that we do,” she says. “The real concern is expecting a group of kindergarteners to successfully wear masks throughout the day.” That task may be difficult for any level student. Will students be required to wear masks all day? That’s another question waiting for an answer. 

A strong at-home learning system is already in place. It was put into effect when the schools in Connecticut were closed in mid-March. Unfortunately, this mode of learning is unrealistic for many families. As the state begins reopening, parents are returning to work, and many families in the school have both parents working outside the home.

These are difficult problems, and hard to resolve without directives from the state governing bodies. Superintendent Iacobelli has set up a School Safety and Security Committee, made up of community members, educators and public servants. The members of the committee, in addition to Iacobelli herself, are Lauren Valentino, principal; Mary Pat Lasko, school secretary; Caitlin Chabot, school psychologist; Erica McCleary, teacher; Ann DeCerbo, parent and Board of Education chair; Sally Carr, Board of Education vice chair; Richard Byrne, director of emergency management for Norfolk; Jonathan Barbagallo, parent and member of the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department and Kailyn Nadeau, parent.

Now that the state directives have been announced, members of the committee will move swiftly to do what educators do best—planning for the education, safety and well-being of the schoolchildren.