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Volume 26, Number 22
Teachers unions criticize school reopening plans By Mary Ellen Godin Record-Journal staff
At-risk school staff are not getting the exemptions they need to work from home, ventilation in many schools is poor, equipment is not being provided and social distancing is no guarantee, teacher union officials told the media Monday. Representatives from the Connecticut Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers of Connecticut said there are classrooms without windows or proper ventilation in some districts, while others don’t have enough room for students and teachers to remain 6 feet apart.
Last week, the CEA had asked for a two-week delay in school reopening, but the delay was not included in the 13 school reopening principles the unions released Monday. CEA affiliates around the state include unions in Wallingford, Southington, Cheshire, Berlin, Plainville, North Haven, Middlefield and Durham. Teachers in Meriden are represented by the American Federation of Teachers
Union leaders from CEA, AFT and the AFL-CIO said that although there is a law against teachers striking in Connecticut, they will consider other measures, including naming the least cooperative districts. About 15 to 30 percent of school workers statewide said they have compromised immune systems and are not being given reasonable options, officials said.
“We are urging solidarity with all our unions,” said American Federation of Teachers Connecticut Pres“We wouldn’t think for a ident Jan Hochadel. “We second to say to a student are urging districts if they with a compromised imdon’t have the funds, or don’t have the PPE ... If See Unions, A15
WALLINGFORD — TriCircle, Inc., a Middlefieldbased nonprofit that provides resources for individuals and families affected by substance use, invited the public to view a memorial quilt displayed at Gaylord Hospital this past weekend. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, a maximum of 25 people at one time were allowed in the room where the quilt was displayed. Social distancing and masks were required. The quilt, which commemorates 36 people who have died, is slated to be the first in a series.
Ana Gopoian, TriCircle founder and president, said in a statement that the quilt was “crafted to create an opportunity for individuals and families to come together to remember and memorialize their loved ones in a supportive and caring environment.” TriCircle plans to display the quilt around the state “in an effort to reduce stigma and create meaningful conversations about substance use,” Gopoian said. “TriCircle, Inc. hopes that by putting the faces of those who have died in the forefront, we will reinforce the need to create
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
they can’t do the things on this list, our suggestion is go to distance learning until they can.”
Quilt honors lost loved ones By Lauren Takores Record-Journal staff
Friday, August 28, 2020
Ana Gopoian, founder of TriCircle, Inc., an organization that provides resources for individuals and their families affected by substance use disorders. Photos by Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
long term solutions and make the valuable changes necessary to improve the system of care and recovery.” See Quilt, A10
“We are pleased that we could restart the conditioning we’ve done since July 6,” CIAC Executive Director Glenn Lungarini said Tuesday. “We are also on the same page with DPH that we can start skill work on Saturday.” Aaron Flaum, Record-Journal
A week of sprints, waiting & wonder By Greg Lederer Record-Journal Staff
CHESHIRE — In their hopeful journey to return to play amid the coronavirus pandemic, Connecticut high school athletes and coaches received positive news this week. After having in-person activities suspended for 10 days, the CIAC allowed teams to resume non-contact conditioning workouts on Monday.
The conditioning announcements came after the CIAC Board of Control met on Sunday. Starting on July 6, CIAC had allowed teams to participate in conditioning cohorts of limited numbers, but after the Connecticut Department of Public Health sent them a letter recommending, among other things, a two-week break to put the focus on the return to school, the athletic governing body chose to take a pause from their fall plan on Aug. 14.
The transition to skill-work practices comes Saturday. By then, they should have an In collaborating with DPH update on the future course last week, the CIAC received of the season. the state’s blessing to pick “Our teams restarted condi- up their practice plan for the fall season. To align with Nationing on Tuesday,” said tional Federation of High Cheshire Athletic Director Steve Trifone. “The coaches School guidelines, cohort workouts are currently limitwere anxious to get back at ed to 10 athletes per session. it. As long as the weather holds up, we will work out “We are pleased that we with social distancing. It (the could restart the conditionprocess) is one day at a time.” See Sports, A16