Connor said his goal was to collect feedback that will help him make a recommendation to the School Committee next month on whether to reopen West Springfield schools to in-person instruction. Making yet another change — moving all students back to remote learning — would be even worse. Connor, Tim. One father of three suggested that the danger posed to schoolchildren by COVID-19 is comparable to riding in a car, and that there’s always the option of returning to remote learning if infection rates rise to unacceptable levels. REVIEW/UPDATE YOUR STUDENT(S) ANNUAL VERIFICATION FORM, Website Design by Granicus - Connecting People and Government. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience.

Connor said those who did not speak on Tuesday but wish to comment can email him at connor@wsps.org, or call 413-263-3289. West Springfield School Superintendent Tim Connor hosted the forum. About 40 participants, most of them parents of public school children, shared their thoughts. “When I hear people use the term ‘acceptable risk,’ I find that incredibly insulting,” responded a mother of three students who has a family member in a COVID-19 risk group.

Departments: Superintendent, Curriculum; Divisions: School; Title: Superintendent; Phone: (413) 263-3300; Email: Email; Return to full list >> Come Visit West Springfield Public Schools 26 Central Street West Springfield, MA 01089. Workplaces and daycares have reopened, stores are open, even youth sports teams are playing. The School Committee is expected to vote Oct. 26 on whether to make a change.

West Springfield School Superintendent Tim Connor hosted the forum. The language was less vitriolic, but it didn’t make the stakes any lower. She said the risk of contracting COVID-19 worries her less than the risk that many children are missing out on learning and being hurt emotionally. People are used to wearing masks and social distancing. One mother also questioned what would happen if a return to classrooms were followed by a coronavirus outbreak.

He’s having an extremely difficult time. Timothy Connor currently lives in Westfield, MA; in the past Timothy has also lived in West Springfield MA. Changing models now is disruption enough, she said. “We have to get him back in school. Phone (413) 263-3289 Keep in Touch. Parents shared wildly differing experiences with West Springfield’s current all-remote model.

… The School Committee needs to know this is hurting our kids.”, “I really want full-remote,” said a high school freshman. © 2020 Advance Local Media LLC. School Department/ Administration Director, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, In-Person Learning Schedules & Bus Routes 10/21/20, School Department/ Administration Directory, COVID-19 Letter to Special Education Families, Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Information/Resources, Parent and Family Social Emotional Learning, Returning Student Annual Verification Form, West Springfield Partnership for Education, West Springfield Public Schools Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan, Bullying Prevention Policy & Anti-Bullying Incident Reporting, DESE Problem Resolution System Intake Information Form, Physical Exam & Immunization Requirements, Opiate Information for Athletes and Parents, Vaping Information for Students and Families, Talking to Adolescents: Substance Use Prevention. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.

He’s regressing,” said one parent.

“I can’t even count how many meltdowns a day we have with remote learning,” a grandmother said of her kindergartner. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. “This is not working for my special needs son. All rights reserved (About Us). Connor said Monday that the three options the School Committee will consider next month are continuing the all-remote system, a hybrid model where students would spend two days per week in school and three days remote, or a full return to school. Timothy also answers to Tim W Connor, Tim Connor and Timothy W Connor, and perhaps a couple of other names. Several parents said the online classrooms this fall, which more closely mimic the traditional school schedule than those in the spring, are working well for their children. “What the parents are asking for now is a choice, to do what’s best for their child,” said the father of two Tatham School pupils. Responses will be accepted at least until mid-October. “Remote should always be an option. WEST SPRINGFIELD – With the exit of Superintendent Michael Richard, the West Springfield School Committee unanimously selected Curriculum Director Tim Connor to become the interim superintendent, effective Feb. 24. Your support makes a difference. Michael Ballway | Special to The Republican. WEST SPRINGFIELD — Away from the rhetoric of social media, parents and students shared their experiences with online learning, and recommendations for how West Side schools should adapt to the coronavirus, at a Tuesday call-in listening session. Those who proposed a return to in-person classes — whether on a hybrid model, or five days a week — said all students have a right to the best education West Springfield can offer.

I’m just asking for you to give the parents the option to do what’s best for their family.”. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/20). He said he can’t decide whether to support a hybrid model because there are still too many questions about how it would work. Will students have to switch teachers midway through the year, as each school sorts into in-person and remote student bodies? On days when teachers are busy leading in-person classrooms, who will be teaching their remote students? I don’t want to have to sit in a classroom worried I’ll get COVID.”. The survey is linked from the district homepage at wsps.org. A few parents said their children are suffering from severe headaches and eye strain from sitting in front of a computer screen all day. “If you stay remote, are your kids going to be second-class citizens?” asked another Tatham School father.

Subscribe to MassLive.com. “It’s quite the honor to be asked to do this,” said Connor. “There are still just too many questions. About 40 participants, most of them parents of public school children, shared their thoughts.

Others said they see children finding it difficult to focus on a computer screen for 5 hours a day, or unable to find a quiet place at home to concentrate on their work, or wasting time as they wait for classmates to log in to online classes. “What’s acceptable to you may not be acceptable to my family.”. Summary: Timothy Connor was born on 11/27/1969 and is 50 years old. One parent asked the proponents of remote learning to consider the needs of families with no adults at home during the day, and others said students with special needs are not getting the attention and services they require. Proponents of reopening the schools outnumbered opponents by a roughly 3-to-2 margin, but a substantial number had nuanced opinions or said they didn’t have enough information to decide.

Skeptics worried that there wouldn’t be enough teachers or resources to accommodate in-person and remote classes at the same time. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. School administrators are asking parents and caregivers to fill out an online survey with their thoughts on how well remote learning is working, and whether they support sending children back to school in person. The current plan, adopted in August, is to remain all-remote until at least Nov. 2. Six months into the pandemic, there’s no need to continue to subject West Side families and children to remote learning, several proponents of in-person learning said.