By Virginia Coleman-Prisco

Under the direction of Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Education (DOE), school districts have been required to develop plans for three scenarios for fall 2020: a full reopening of school with in-person instruction, a blend of in-person and remote instruction, and full remote instruction. School superintendent Mary Beth Iacobelli says that Botelle’s Reopening Committee grappled with “the mandate to provide in-person instruction for all students and provide remote learning for families who temporarily opt out of school.”

The Reopening Committee is made up of administrators, teachers, custodians, secretaries, board members, parents and town officials (emergency management, first responders, day care providers). On July 24, the committee approved a plan in line with detailed guidance from the DOE. The plan reflects the most current information and is subject to revision. The full plan has been posted on the Botelle website (www.botelleschool.org).

Board of Education chairperson Ann DeCerbo says, “It goes without saying that we are all eager to get back into school, but we need to make sure our students and staff are safe. I think they have crafted a really smart plan and approached all these challenges with creativity and common sense.” Kailyn Patrick Nadeau, who in addition to being a committee member is a parent and co-owner of the Norfolk Early Learning Center, says she is “impressed that in this unprecedented time the committee wanted to do the very best they could under the circumstances to ensure a safe reopening.”

Botelle has advantages during this pandemic: a small population (around 80 students) and many instructional spaces. Botelle will reopen on Sept. 2 with a modified calendar. Students will stay in cohorts, and their travel throughout the building will be minimized. Special teachers and support teachers will rotate to different classrooms.

Buses will run as usual, but students will follow new boarding procedures and be required to wear face masks. Inside the school, students and staff are required to wear face masks or a cloth covering that completely covers the nose and mouth. The Botelle PTO has purchased washable masks for all students and staff. Mask breaks will be built into the day, including periods of time outside in socially distant spaces.

Families can also opt to choose remote learning using a school-provided device under adult supervision at home. Teachers will post assignments and use various technology so that remote learners can tune in to morning meeting and group lessons. Teachers will check in with remote families every afternoon.

Parents are urged to not send sick students to school. Now more than ever, it’s important to safeguard one another’s health. The school nurse is the designated Covid-19 health and safety compliance liaison. Staff and parents of students are required to inform the school if they are sick with Covid-related symptoms; such information will be confidential. In the event of a positive case, it may be necessary to transition to remote learning so that an investigation and contact tracing can occur. Any critical news or need to cancel classes will be communicated to families via email and website postings.

Most importantly, cleaning and sanitation measures are being updated. For example, water fountains will not be in use, but a new water bottle filling station has been installed. The cafeteria will be cleaned between each lunch wave. Bathrooms, classrooms and other shared spaces will be cleaned throughout the day and will be thoroughly disinfected each evening.

These are the measures that Botelle’s staff and community are undertaking to ensure a safe and healthy learning experience for students. Of course, no plan is perfect, and no one knows what will change in a few weeks. However, Botelle will keep striving to be safe and adaptable during this pandemic.

There will be a Zoom meeting in early August at which Superintendent Iacobelli and Principal Lauren Valentino will discuss the new plan. The date and time of the meeting will be posted on the school website.