Recent news from the CDC has Barrington school officials feeling optimistic about bringing more students back to in-person learning.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released new guidance which states that students only need three feet of social distancing between themselves and others while at school. Previous guidance stated that students needed to be separated by six feet.

Barrington Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore said Friday afternoon that he heard the news and wants to fully study the new guidance. He said the announcement sheds an optimistic light on the district’s efforts to bring more students back to full in-person learning.

“What it means is getting more kids back in school,” Mr. Messore said. “Everybody wants our kids back in school.”

The superintendent said the key will be making sure that the return to in-person learning for more students is done in the safest way possible.

Barrington’s younger student population has been fully emerged in in-person learning for months. Students in kindergarten through sixth grade are all doing in-person learning, while students in grades seven through 12 have been participating in a hybrid model, where some students alternate between in-person and at-home learning. There are a number of students across all grades whose families have opted for full distance-learning also.

Mr. Messore said school officials have been contemplating what the return of more students to in-person learning will look like.

“The classrooms don’t feel as challenging as the common areas,” he said.

In particular, school officials are trying to build a plan for lunch time in the cafeterias. Mr. Messore said part of the solution could be allowing students to eat lunch outdoors. He said a separate plan would be needed for inclement weather.

“We have to be careful,” he said.

Should officials decide to bring more students back to in-person learning, they would likely focus first on the transition grades, Mr. Messore said.

The superintendent said officials will closely monitor testing data following the upcoming April vacation week.

School staff clinic

More than 150 Barrington Public School staff members recently received their Covid-19 vaccinations during a clinic held on a recent Saturday at Barrington Middle School. In addition, some staff from local private schools Barrington Christian Academy and St. Luke’s School also received their vaccinations at the clinic.