Leigh Busby / @busbyleigh Instagram
School buses headed out of the First Student company campus before dawn Tuesday morning to cries of “What disinfectant do you use?” and “We are here for you.”
A few passionate parents and leaders of community organizations held the protest at 140 Middletown Ave. in opposition to New Haven Public Schools’ first day of in-person school since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
Despite plans to block the buses, the protesters parted and allowed the buses through after requests from police officers. No one was arrested.
“I have not seen anybody clean a bus. I don’t see how anyone could not be passionate about this,” said Catherine “CJ” John, a lead organizer of Black and Brown United in Action.
Miller said she and other parents are worried about pre-K through fifth-grade students starting hybrid learning in New Haven on Tuesday.
“A lot of fear that that the reopening of schools is going to put us as a community at greater risk,” said Miller.
Miller’s group – New Haven Public School Advocates – joined others representing teachers, parents, community activists and religious leaders to send a letter to the mayor and district leaders.
They’re calling for the return to be delayed until at least Feb. 1.
“There’s still confusion out there on a lot of different things,” said David Cicarella, New Haven Federation of Teachers president.
“We’ve always had a substitute teacher shortage in New Haven prior to this,” said Cicarella. “Now with 250 teachers potentially out on some type of accommodation, I don’t know where we’re going to get these bodies.”
He said there are about 100 members of the substitute teachers union. The district is looking for more substitute teachers, which raises a larger question for Cicarella.
“We’ve been out since March, it’s January. I’m not sure what the rush is and where did we land on this arbitrary date?” Cicarella asked.
City leaders plan to present research Monday night that shows transmission rates among young school children are low.