Regional School Committee approves budget, athletics

April 6, 2021 | Peter Currier
peter@thewestfieldnews group.com

SOUTHWICK –  The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School Committee unanimously passed the FY22 budget  on March 30. 

The total budget of $25,822,130 was a decrease from last year, which can largely be blamed on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The FY21 budget was $26,207,612.

The School Committee also unanimously approved stage three of the COVID-19 school closure metrics in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Education Association. The MOA was originally approved in September.

Certain criteria must be met for schools to move to remote learning for 14 days due to COVID-19. Two out of three things must happen before remote learning is activated: One, Hampden County as a whole must maintain a percent-positivity rate of more than five percent for 14 straight days. Two, either Southwick, Tolland, or Granville must be considered a high-risk community for two consecutive weeks. Three, at least one percent of in-person students are absent due to COVID-19. 

Spring athletics were also unanimously approved, though wrestling remains up in the air. Willard said that she had not yet heard from the state what the policy will be regarding wrestling, as it is by its nature a close contact sport, which could theoretically cause COVID-19 spread.

Athletic Director David Sanschagrin said that there is a possibility that wrestling may have to take place outdoors.

Willard said that any meets for any sport can be attended by the parents and siblings of the home team, but that visiting parents and siblings would not be allowed.

“They had to purchase a ticket and they show that when they get to the game,” said Willard.

Willard said that half-day Wednesdays would be eliminated for the remainder of the year. She said that the only remaining half-day would be the final day of school.

To close out the meeting, Willard announced that there are new COVID-19 guidelines surrounding quarantining. She said she had met with the Safety Committee to discuss the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

People who test positive will now only be required to quarantine for 10 days, a decrease from the 14-day guideline that were in place for most of the pandemic. She also said that non-household close contacts can now simply get tested for COVID-19 without the need to immediately quarantine.

Siblings and family members of people who test positive may now also stay in school unless they are symptomatic or are confirmed to be a close contact. The school district will also only accept the results for PCR COVID-19 tests. They will not accept results from rapid tests, which are generally considered to be less accurate.

Masks will still be required for all persons in school, even if one is fully vaccinated. Social distancing measures will also remain in place where physically possible.

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