By Gray Ballard
The Newtown Board of Education has voted at this past March’s monthly meeting for December fourteenth to be a day of observance, a day off for students and a professional development day for teachers and educators, starting in 2022.
Board of Education Superintendent, Dr. Lorrie Rodrigue presented this idea to the school board after explaining that officials had agreed to approve the notion that two of the school’s one hundred eighty two school days would be used as remote learning days, taking into consideration the previous year’s events and potential snow days that would render the schools inaccessible.
This past December, anonymous threats across the state led to the fourteenth being a day of remote learning, where students were able to access their classes virtually from within their own homes.
“I believe that making 12/14 as a Day of Observance was a sensible decision. It allows families to choose how they want to spend the day, in particular those who have been directly impacted by the tragedy.” Said Rachel Torres, an educator at Newtown High School and a parent to children within the Newtown School System. “Hopefully, it can evolve into a Day of Service where the community engages in activities that bring people together and serve others in need.”
This year, 2022, marks the tenth anniversary of the fatal shooting that forever scarred the community of Newtown, and shook the country. Twenty young students and six members of the administrative staff at Sandy Hook Elementary school lost their lives on that fateful December day
This tragedy has left many throughout Newtown and the state wary when it comes to threats against the schools.
“There has been a series of anonymous threats...across Connecticut, and certainly following the tragedy in Michigan,” Dr. Rodrigue said regarding last year’s incidents. “This has shaken many schools.”
Though these threats had been deemed “uncredible”, Dr. Rodrigue decided to use one of the two approved remote learning days instead of tapping into the school system’s available snow days. The board determined that this would likely provide a sense of calm and guaranteed safety to the parents of and the children within the Newtown school district.