The first day of school in Old Saybrook is Wednesday, Aug. 31. Per recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Department of Public Health, the Board of Education has adopted a policy that requires mask use inside the school buildings and on school transportation for all students, staff, and visitors.

Social distancing will be encouraged with floor markings and signs. Desks will be spaced at least three feet apart, and eating and drinking will take place in designated areas.

According to the reopening plan, “Students in grades pre-K to 8 will be cohorted by grade. Students in grades 9 to 12 will be assigned to consistent pods for free periods and lunch breaks.”

In the event of a positive COVID test, that person will need to quarantine. If a person who is a close contact isn’t fully vaccinated, they too will need to quarantine. A person who is a close contact but is fully vaccinated and not showing any symptoms will not need to quarantine.

Mask breaks will be given during the day and masks won’t be required during physical education or recess. Hand washing and sanitizing will be encouraged during the day.

In recent weeks across the country there has been cases of angry townspeople attending BOE meetings to demand that schools not adopt mask mandates in schools.

Superintendent of Schools Jan Perruccio said that in Old Saybrook, “The members of this community have taken their responsibility to each other very seriously. I have every reason to have faith that they will continue to do so.”

While the 2020-’21 school year was certainly hard for students, staff, and parents, Perruccio said one silver lining is that a year and a half into the COVID pandemic people have a much better idea of what works and what doesn’t than anyone did this last year.

“We are looking forward to the new academic year. We know so much more about COVID now than we did last year. We feel prepared to mitigate its impact and continue educating our students, giving them the best academic opportunities and the social connections critical to their growth,” Perruccio said.