Greenwich Schools Propose Small Group Pull-Out Model for Middle School Music

“We’ve heard what the board is asking us to do. We will go back and look at that. If you’re asking, as a school superintendent, can we implement the guidelines and do it safely, I’ll say I’m not comfortable doing that, but the board is saying that’s what you want us to do.”

Greenwich Schools superintendent Dr. Toni Jones

Peter Sherr said he appreciated cohorts, but that there was already cross-cohorting of students riding school buses.

“We can’t use this selectively, and in certain instances be very devout about these rules, and in particular situations where it’s created a difficulty, we’re not,” he said.

Asked about a timeline to return middle school music, Dr. Jones asked for flexibility.

She said an after school music teacher job had already been posted, and they probably could already have had after school lessons underway, but that they would return to planning lessons during the school day.

“The last thing I want is to be pulling middle school principals out for two hour meetings, three days a week,” she continued, adding that if there is a positive Covid case in middle school, principals will need to be present to answer parent questions for 24-48 hours of difficult time.

“This was a very difficult ask tonight,” she added.

“If they need money, if they need buildings, if they need tents, we have a curriculum and it needs to be taught,” Mr. Sherr said.

“I think so much of this is operational, and we have veered well into that lane and we need to get out of it,” BOE chairman Bernstein said.

“Toni has heard the board, that if they can move forward without us, they should do that,” he added. “They don’t need to come back to us with every detail. If they can get orchestra back and, in the next few weeks, great, and if band takes a little bit longer, and they have to reassure the parents, get the implements that cover the instruments, go do that. I don’t want to get in their way.”

Following about two hours of discussion of middle school music, the board moved to its next agenda item.