It is official! Today the school’s administration recommended to the Board of Trustees that Franklin Academy resume on-campus operations this September. Our trustees unanimously approved this recommendation. They cited the encouraging pandemic numbers for Connecticut, Middlesex Country, and East Haddam. Then, they evaluated the careful preparations to welcome students back to campus. They reviewed the thoughtful timeline to start the school year. The Board also endorsed the continuation of Cyber Franklin as an option for any student unable to return to East Haddam. In the final analysis, the combination of Connecticut’s progress through the pandemic, the diligent work of our COVID-19 Reopen Taskforce and administrative team, and Franklin Academy’s distinctive advantages gave each trustee reasons for optimism.
Here are the essential dates in September for Franklin Academy’s reopening. First, there is a virtual orientation for all students that runs from September 14 to 18. Second, we are setting aside September 21 to 23, so all students have time to undergo pre-arrival COVID-19 testing. Next, FLI seniors and postgraduates come to campus on Thursday, September 24. Afterward, underclassmen will arrive in smaller groups over three days, September 25 to 27. Finally, classes begin on Monday, September 28.
Once we start school in September, we will be on campus until the beginning of the Thanksgiving Break on November 20. The December Intersession will be a Cyber Franklin experience for everyone. Consequently, students will remain at home until January 10 when they return to campus for the second semester.