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Date: 3/8/2021
GRANBY – On March 2, the Granby School Committee had their first in-person meeting a year after the pandemic began.
This month, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley has asked the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education members to give him the authority to instruct districts statewide to open their classrooms full time, five days a week. His plan will focus on elementary students first with the goal of having them back for full in-person learning by April.
Chair Jennifer Bartosz stated, “We are aware that there’s been all sorts of things happening of learning activity from Commissioner Jeffrey Riley and Governor Baker. As it stands right now everything that Commissioner Riley mentioned the later part of last week and what Governor Baker has talked about right now, these are all suggestions and proposals to propose. There’s a Board of Education meeting on Friday, March 5 where they will vote and see whether or not they are going to give Commissioner Riley the authority to do what he wants to do.”
She continued, “Governor Baker’s proposal as I understand it, he is standing behind Commissioner Riley’s initiative to get kids back in school full time, but I would like to remind everyone that we are phasing students in. All of our students will be in a hybrid model by March 22 with the exception of those students that have chosen to remain remote.”
Reopening & Safety Committee Updates
On the update of the reopening planning process, Superintendent Carol Hepworth said they are on track for March 8 for their third to fourth grade and ninth to tenth grade to start. “We had a good first week last week with the kids in both schools,” Hepworth replied. “Lots of smiles. A lot of happy kids to be back. It was great having the building making noise and people in the halls, it was a great first week back.”
President of Granby Education Association (GEA) Cheryl Denette wrote in an email that Bartosz read at the meeting, “Most all of the staff are very eager to return to in-person learning. For many of us, there is a beginning of the year anticipation, while we ready our classrooms for the students’ return. We know that many steps have been taken to ensure everyone’s health and safety. Our hope is with the proper protocols being not only in place, but followed by all, we will have a positive experience returning to in-person. There is a high level of disappointment that all school staff was not prioritized for the vaccines. However, we are ready and excited to be in-person with our students. Granby teachers, nurses, and paraprofessionals have always been dedicated educators and we will continue to give it our all. We have always wanted what is best for the students in our community.”
The Safety Committee decided that Hepworth will notify the community once a week about positive cases within the school with a daily COVID-19 report on their website.
Visitors Comments
The meeting became heated once parents unleashed their frustration to the committee, pleading for their children to be back in school full time because parents felt the committee’s pace was too slow. Some parents expressed their dilemma of having one child doing in-person learning while the other remains remote. Many also said they felt their voices weren’t being heard by the committee and urged them going forward to look at how they can make the people of Granby feel more comfortable to speak at their meetings.
“As a collective, we the Granby School Committee before my time here chose to add visitors’ comments as a way to connect with the people,” Bartosz emotionally expressed. “However, when we listen to the comments it does not mean that we have the ability to act monetarily or at a moment’s notice. There are many players that also have a say, so I hope that people feel that they were heard tonight. I know that for me personally this has probably been one of the hardest hours I’ve had on the committee because I don’t want anyone to feel that we’re taking any of our jobs lightly. There’s a lot of things that are going on behind the scenes that we’re not at liberty to discuss and that’s not as simple as saying we want the kids to come back because a lot of parents want their kids to come back.”
Bartosz went on to say that she is also one of those parents that wants her children to come back, but has to wear her “School Committee hat” which makes her look at decisions differently.
Committee Member Jennifer Mallette added, “I do understand their struggles. The very bad struggles and the very bad side of this so I completely understand as a parent, but as a School Committee member I’m here for all children, all parents, all teachers and all administration. I’m not here for just me and my child.”
Winter Sports Update
Assistant Principal Alison Jordan-Gagner informed the committee that cross country started on March 1. They have seven signups and few more expected. Girls’ basketball is slated to play Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Board of Health approved of Gagner’s proposal for spring sports slated to begin April 26 for baseball, softball, girls and boy’s lacrosse and girls’ and boys’ volleyball, as well as playing other schools for baseball, softball, lacrosse for girls and boys and boys’ volleyball.