Old Lyme — A flurry of cars began dropping off mask-wearing children at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School around 7:20 a.m. Tuesday — sixth graders at the front, and seventh and eighth graders each using a separate entrance on the side.

"Do you know where you're going?" a staff member greeting students on the side asked one girl. "Sort of!" she replied cheerfully.

After nearly six months with students away from the classroom due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Region 18 is one of the few districts in southeastern Connecticut opening with fully in-person learning. About 10% of students have opted for fully remote learning, Superintendent Ian Neviaser said, noting that "many of those families are waiting to see how things pan out."

Mary Roth, a parent of high school students, said she's feeling confident "because I'm also a teacher, and I already had my first day yesterday, and it went really, really well."

She spoke from her car while in a line of parents dropping off their kids at the high school, located behind the middle school. Both schools gave parents drop-off times of 7:20-7:25, 7:25-7:30 or 7:30-7:35 based on student last names; the high school backup quickly dissipated, with fewer cars coming through by 7:40.

Roth teaches in Salem, which also is doing in-person learning, and she's grateful to be on the same schedule as her kids.

She said of preparing for this day, "It was overwhelming, I would say, just trying to think of every precaution to get ready for school, and I think everybody was having mixed feelings." But she added that her kids have never been more excited for the first day of school.

"I feel great. I'm excited. I'm worried but excited," said Lesley Moore, a few cars ahead of Roth in dropping off her sophomore. Moore said her son was really looking forward to being back, and she hopes the in-person learning will last.

Buses pulled through next to the high school drop-off line, though the district has been discouraging bus transportation. Neviaser said that based on a survey that went out in early August, 40% of students are taking the bus, which is lower than normal.

Less furniture, more protective equipment

Neviaser didn't allow The Day to enter school buildings Tuesday, but a video the district posted Aug. 24 shows some changes made to classrooms and hallways.

One thing the heads of Center School, Mile Creek School, Lyme School and Lyme-Old Lyme middle and high schools all stressed is that they've removed "extraneous" furniture to create the greatest possible distance between desks.

But there are other differences by grade level, such as how lunch works. Noah Ventola, administrator of the pre-kindergarten program at Center School, said in the video that half the students will eat at tables in the classroom and half at mats around the room, and custodians will clean after lunch.

He also said all teachers have been provided walkie-talkies, to avoid having classes interact with each other.

Mile Creek School Principal Kelly Enoch said portable desk shields will be used during lunchtime and at a few tables for small-group instruction.

Middle school and high school students are eating in the cafeteria, though with fewer students at each table. The middle school has lunch tables set up in the gym and the high school has two extra lunch wings.

Middle school Principal Mark Ambruso noted that teachers will wear clear masks, seventh graders will be released from class three minutes later than those in grades six and eight, lockers won't be used, and there's a "band equipment depot" at each entrance for students to put their instruments.

A FAQ on the district's reopening page said the high school has secured "music-specific" personal protective equipment, or PPE. Asked about this, Neviaser referenced covers for instruments and masks with slits in them, and referred to an addendum from the state titled, "COVID-19 Reopening Considerations for Connecticut K-12 Music Programs."

The FAQ said physical education "will focus more on individual exercise and health and steer away from team sports activities that require the sharing of equipment," which Neviaser said might involve more yoga or bodyweight exercises. He said PE and other classes will try to be outside as much as possible.

Region 18 has among the highest per-pupil spending in the state, and Lyme and Old Lyme both rank in the top quartile of Connecticut's cities and towns for per-capita income. Still, where is the district getting the money for the added costs of PPE, desk shields and more?

Lyme-Old Lyme Schools got $329,741 in state aid to open. Neviaser said the district also has money from a federal grant and is anticipating some reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

e.moser@theday.com