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Date: 9/1/2021
WEST SPRINGFIELD – With the ongoing changes and meetings regarding schools reopening, Superintendent Tim Connor and Mayor William Reichelt released a video, discussing the most up-to-date information.
Beginning Sept. 2, students will be fully back in school, five days a week. Per the decision of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Commissioner Jeff Riley, universal masking will take place through Oct. 1, regardless of vaccination.
Connor said, “In comparison to last year, this is night and day. We have kids coming back, five days a week, on day one – that alone is huge.”
Looking further into the mask mandate, Connor said, “In the meantime, between the School Committee and conversations, the commissioner did mention that he is going to be obviously looking at the data and giving us further guidance as we get closer.” As of now, they’re throwing around “the magic number,” as referred to by Connor, which is 80 percent. The goal is to reach this 80 percent vaccination rate so that masks will no longer be required.
“The sooner we get closer to the 80 percent mark, the sooner the masks go away,” said Reichelt.
“That’s something that we’re going to do internally too.” Reichelt has asked the health staff to keep them updated on the vaccination rates, as they plan to look at them regularly.
Connor and Reichelt said there will be more vaccination clinics coming soon, set to take place at the middle school and high school.
One major change this school year will be the buses. Last year, there were seating charts, along with certain health and safety issues, however, this year, they are encouraging students to take the bus to and from school. Connor claimed that the bus company is working to ensure the students safety by keeping the windows down and wearing masks at all times.
While at school, students will have access to tents provided in outdoor spaces – mainly to be utilized while eating lunch. “At the high school and middle school, we will potentially be using the gym space; auditorium space at the middle school – we’re really trying to do whatever we can to reduce the amount of quarantining and staying far away from any closure … that’s the goal,” said Connor.
He added that they are working closely with the Board of Health, along with following all DESE and Department of Health (DPH) guidelines. “We’re excited because there’s more mitigation things we’re doing to keep students in school.”
Reichelt encouraged people to get the vaccine if possible, in order to move past this pandemic.
Connor said a letter has been sent out to parents explaining these protocols and testing options.
For additional information or to ask questions to the School Committee directly, email schoolcommittee@wsps.org.