The Lyme School was forced to close for all but one day this week because of Covid-related staff and student absences. In this email responding to a question from Daybreak about the situation there, interim Superintendent Frank Perotti explains that the core issue is what a spike in the virus means for staffing, and that with the school blocked by state policy from requiring masks to get things under control, it’s unsafe and unproductive to remain open. In a separate email to the Lyme community late yesterday, he wrote, “Our only tool to try and get things back to a reasonably safe and educationally sound place is to try closing again and hope we get the majority of our staff back by Monday.”

Lyme has done exceptionally well with staying open with in-school learning. I am one of the casualties, having contracted COVID while at work. The school made a heroic attempt today (Wednesday) to try and reopen after the weekend and Monday and Tuesday off. It has just not worked out and we are anticipating a worsening situation.

With the relaxing of regulations on masking, I just think things have gotten out of control. I personally am fully vaccinated and double-boosted and I am still sick after 5 full days and taking the antivirals. I am aware that the local high schools are having high rates with students, but not staff, though the Ledyard Charter School has also been closed and teaching remotely as much as possible. It is the staffing situation that makes it so hard. Once someone is out, it is for at least 5 and maybe 10 days before they can test negative and return with masking. It is a very unusual situation. In the past we would have gone remote for a few days, required masking for a short period, and gotten it under control. With the Governor and the Commissioner of Education refusing to allow us those choices we are left with closing. Trying to operate with insufficient staff is unsafe and totally unproductive educationally.