WESTPORT — School officials, citing “a continued drop in COVID positive cases,” are loosening some procedures designed to slow transmission of the virus that were imposed at the start of the academic year.

In a statement circulated Tuesday, Supt. of Schools Thomas Scarice said the latest revision of the requirements is based on a review of COVID’s impact on the school district six weeks into the year.

Among the the highlights:

• Teachers compliant with vaccination mandates will be allowed to lead instruction without wearing masks, as long as they remain at the front of the classroom and students are masked and seated. This, however, applies to teachers in grades seven through 12 only. Teachers at the elementary level may be allowed to do the same after Nov. 1, “when we have a better handle on [student] ages 5-11 vaccinations,” according to Scarice. 

• Lunches will continue to be served outdoors, under tents, for the rest of October. “We will revisit lunch practices when we better understand the K-6 vaccinations at the end of the month,” the superintendent said.

• Visitors to schools will be required to show proof of vaccination through at least Dec. 31. Groups of visitors will be permitted to meet in person at schools with permission from building administrators, provided social distancing is possible in larger rooms and that visitors are masked with proof of vaccination.

• Conferences for parents of elementary pupils will be held in person for those who are vaccinated and online for the unvaccinated. Virtual accommodations for any parent can be provided, Scarice said.
  
• Performances at some schools are planned over the coming months, and so-called “mitigating measures” will be used to determine audience capacity and social distancing that will be required for each of the events, he said.
• Rental of school buildings is possible by “community groups after hours,” Scarice said. Masking is recommended for everyone using school facilities, he said, but added, “We do not have the capacity to enforce our measures outside of school hours.” 
• Field trips, particularly to outdoor venues, have been approved for some student groups this year, Scarice said. Future trip requests will be reviewed in the context of current COVID transmission rates.