The 2021-’22 school years begins for students in East Haven Public Schools (EHPS) on Tuesday, Aug. 31 with a full in-person return. On Aug. 5, Governor Ned Lamont issued Executive Order 13A, which continues the requirement that all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a face-covering mask when inside public or private school buildings and while riding on school buses through Thursday, Sept. 30.

“EHPS is prepared to open schools in accordance with the existing executive order requiring masks for all students, staff, and visitors when in school buildings,” said Superintendent of Schools Erica Forti. “EHPS will communicate any changes to this mask requirement should the governor change or modify the executive order.”

The Board of Education voted for the 2021-’22 school year occur fully in-person with no remote option. The district is currently awaiting guidance as to what the Connecticut State Department of Education (CTSDE) will require in the case of quarantine situations.

The CTSDE Interim Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Connecticut’s PreK-12 Schools, which were released in July, have stated that fully vaccinated students and staff who are a close contact with a known COVID-19 case do not have to quarantine from sports or other activities, provided they remain asymptomatic after close contact with a known COVID-19 case. Unvaccinated asymptomatic students who are a close contact of a known COVID-19 case will quarantine for 10 days (with a negative test between days 7 and 10) or 14 days without a test. Vaccinated and unvaccinated students who experience COVID-19 symptoms after close contact with a known COVID-19 case will quarantine for 10 days (with a negative test between days 7 and 10) or 14 days without a test.

At this time, all classes, activities, and sports will be operating as normal, though anyone taking part in activities held inside of the building must remain masked.

Regular school hours have been extended by 30 minutes. New school hours are 7:25 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. for the high school, 8 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. for the middle school, 8:05 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. for East Haven Academy, and 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. for elementary school. Before-school care beginning at 6:30 a.m. and after-school care ending at 6 p.m. is available through the Soundview Family YMCA program at Hayes School.

While school hours have been extended, the district’s new bus company, B and B Transportation, has worked to create more efficient bus routes in order to reduce the amount of time students spend on the bus. The 2021-’22 bus stops and routes can be found at www.east-haven.k12.ct.us. The bus company can be reached at 203-507-2100.

The dress code remains in effect for grades K to 8, though several new options have been added, including black as a color option, as well as the additions of jeans, leggings, jeggings, and hooded sweatshirts as acceptable items of clothing. Shirts must be a solid color in navy blue, black, white, or burgundy in the following short-sleeve or long-sleeve styles: polo shirts, T-shirts/crewnecks, turtlenecks, and hooded or crew sweatshirts.

In addition to jeans, pants can be khaki/tan, navy blue, black, or burgundy in the following styles: docker/cargo pants, wind pants, sweatpants, capris, cargo/Bermuda shorts, skirts, jumpers, skorts, or leggings.

“We are excited to welcome our staff and students to the 2021-’22 school year,” said Forti. “The landscape of public education has shifted in a way none of us ever expected; however, despite the considerable challenges, we managed to keep our schools open last year and, given these same challenges, are prepared to do the same this year. Our learning community—administrators, teachers, counselors, technology specialists, secretaries, nurses, custodians, and paraprofessionals—are committed to making each school a place where every student can learn, grow, and thrive.”