Westport Teachers “Frustrated” and “Worried” about Decision to Return to School

Some Westport Public School teachers are frustrated with last week’s announcement that elementary and middle schools will be transitioning to the full-in learning model at the end of this month. Local educators explained their concerns in letters to the Board of Education and Superintendent Thomas Scarice, which were shared with The Westport Local Press ahead of tonight’s Board of Education meeting.

“I worry about my students” one educator explained - a sentiment echoed by many of the teachers when speaking about their students, in addition to their own families and themselves. “Full capacity will render social distancing moot and inevitably impossible, as will cramming 22 kids into a small classroom where they will take off their masks to eat. This places not only the teachers who supervise these students at risk, but further the students themselves” another teacher explained as they described the new plan for students to eat lunch in their homerooms.

The Superintendent and Supervisor of Health Services for the Westport Public Schools both have been able to provide data that describes a safe school environment with minimal to virtually no virus transmission in the schools, however the letters describe families who fail to follow safety guidelines outside of the school day, with conversations amongst students about “group sleepovers at friends’ homes or trips out of state” while ignoring social distancing or quarantine guidelines. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced that any violations to the State’s travel restrictions will carry a $500 civil penalty for each violation reported, including the failure to quarantine or receive negative COVID-19 testing after any extended trip outside of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

Last week’s Board of Education meeting also spoke to a possible change in medical and health insurance providers, something that may require some of the educators to change doctors or providers, or prepare for a change in fees and rates, during the pandemic. The district has used the Lockton Companies to mitigate risk and manage their health insurance, and expects an update during the meeting. However if a switch is to be made, “The process of changing carriers is extremely stressful” said one letter, describing multiple insurance transitions in the past several years.

With vaccinations ramping up, and COVID-19 cases rising throughout the State, teachers also wonder why the transition to full-time learning would take place without teachers being vaccinated and with cases still on the rise. One teacher was “disappointed to find out that teachers had been left out of the most recent wave of vaccines.” Although vaccinations are not within the Board of Education’s control, the teacher said that Westport educators’ names were not uploaded to the Vaccine Administration Management System as soon as other districts, placing the Westport school personnel behind other towns’ employees when it comes time to schedule their vaccine appointment. “This situation and Westport’s handling of it is beyond confusing” they concluded.

Although stressed, frustrated, or worried - all teachers who shared their letters spoke to their passion for teaching: “I love teaching, and I care deeply about my students -- both their learning and their well-being” said one, while another described the March closures as emotional: “I love what I do more than anything, and during quarantine last March when I and thousands of other teachers were ripped away from our students, I struggled physically and emotionally in being separated from them and the thing I loved doing the most.”

Although slated to begin on February 1st, teachers ultimately want the Board to reconsider the elementary and middle school full-time transition, saying “Sending school professionals into full buses, buildings, and classrooms without them being vaccinated is unconscionable.”

Westport’s Board of Education meets tonight at 7:00 PM. The meeting can be viewed on Cablevision channel 78, Frontier channel 6021, or online here. The meeting will include 15 minutes for public questions or comments, which will be done through GoogleDocs.

All letters received were anonymous, and all information or opinions stated in the letters reflect those of the author, and do not reflect the opinion of The Westport Local Press, WEA, or any Town of Westport entity.