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NHPS Off to a Smooth Start Despite COVID Challenges

Students in North Haven Public School (NHPS) have been back in the buildings since the beginning of the 2021-’22 school year on Sept. 1. Despite the ongoing pandemic, NHPS has a goal of maintaining 100 percent in-person learning throughout the school year.

“It has been a smooth start to the school year,” said Superintendent of Schools Patrick Stirk. “Students and teachers are visibly excited to be back together in-person.”

Stirk shared his reopening presentation with the Board of Education (BOE) in August. The guiding principles for the school year include the physical safety of student and staff, engaging learning opportunities for all students, and social-emotional learning.

The August presentation included mandatory mask use in school buildings and on buses as mandated by Governor Ned Lamont. The mandate is set to expire on Thursday, Sept. 30 along with Lamont’s 90-day extension of emergency powers.

While masks are still required, some of the guidelines have eased. The Connecticut State Department of Education adjusted its recommendation for physical distancing from six feet to three feet. Cohorting is also no longer required. NHPS will continue to “make every effort” to follow the six-foot distance guidelines during lunch and use outdoor seating and additional spacing when possible.

Quarantine procedures have also been adjusted. Individuals identified as a close contact (within six feet of a COVID-19 positive individual for a combined 15 minutes) may now return to school after seven days so long as they have a negative test on the fifth, sixth, or seventh day. The isolation period for an infected person is 10 days from the onset of symptoms or a positive test. Those in isolation or quarantine will be offered remote instruction.

When it comes to contact tracing, the first question in NHPS’s quarantine flow chart is whether the exposed person was vaccinated. If a vaccinated person is exposed but does not experience symptoms, there is no need for quarantine, though testing is recommended three to five days after exposure. Unvaccinated people who are exposed as close contacts will need to quarantine. Contact tracing extends beyond the regular school day to school-related sports and activities in order to identify all close contacts.

According to Stirk, NHPS is adhering to the governor’s mandate and ensuring the district’s “covered employees” are vaccinated or submit to weekly testing. There have been COVID cases reported within NHPS since the beginning of the school year.

“We track the cases and provide an update to the school community when there is a positive individual that presents an infectious risk to the school district,” said Stirk. “The biggest challenge is the unpredictability of COVID and not knowing what will be impactful to our students, staff, families, and community. At this time, the district is focused on ensuring that all mitigation strategies are in place to keep students and staff safe.”

For more information, visit the COVID Hub on www.northhavenschools.org.