Norwalk Public Schools (NPS) submitted to the state its reopening plan, focusing on the “health and well-being of students” and the tools needed for the program to succeed. Connecticut school districts had until last Friday to submit their plans for three scenarios — full in-person classes, a combination of in-person and distance learning, and fully remote — to the state Department of Education for review.

Alexandra Estrella, who became Norwalk’s new superintendent of schools on July 1, revealed the district’s reopening plan in an informational video released on YouTube last week. “The health and well-being of students and staff is the No. 1 priority in all our work,” Estrella said in the video.

The NPS district’s Reopening Task Force, comprised of staff members, parents and community volunteers, have helped to formulate the plan. The state will determine what models all districts will use based on the COVID-19 infection rate in Connecticut. If the risk remains low, Gov. Ned Lamont is pushing for all schools to fully reopen in the fall. Districts would shift to the hybrid model if the risk becomes moderate and to fully remote if there is a high risk. However, parents can choose to educate their children at home under any of the scenarios.

New coronavirus procedures will require students who use public transportation to wear a mask while on the bus and will require the bus to be loaded back to front with new seating assignments. In order to limit student movement during the day, the task force has also devised a new portable food delivery system that will allow students to eat in class, instead of gathering in a cafeteria.

The district will hold a series of public town hall meetings via Zoom this Wednesday, starting at 3:30 p.m.