Less than one month until schools are scheduled to open, it is much too soon for many of the area districts to have a concrete plan on what model to use in having the students return. For now, three options exist: complete in-person, a hybrid model of in person and remote and remote only.

At the Westfield Academy & Central School board meeting earlier this summer, elementary school Principal Dr. Mary Rockey discussed how problematic it is not have younger children in a classroom setting. Westfield, which did an in-person summer school for a group of 33 younger youth, has noted that the program has been invaluable.

“I want to say thank you for letting us do summer school,” Rockey told the Board of Education last month. “I have had staff come up to me and say, with tears in their eyes, I might add, that the amount of regression they are seeing in those children is absolutely shocking.”

It is one example of how important a personal connection is, especially at a young age. But we cannot get our hopes too high. Districts were given the go-ahead to get back to normal just last week.

There is still lots to consider now with that option a reality.