Gov. Ned Lamont heard the concerns of some West Haven High School students Friday about what they want school to look like this fall.
He spent nearly an hour asking students questions about their feelings on classroom learning, transportation solutions and fall sports programs.
Friday was the deadline for local school systems to submit to the state their plans for fall reopening. School officials say they don't want to start the year with distance learning, before teachers and students have had a chance to connect.
Gov. Lamont says he’s hopeful about a planned 180-day schedule.
"We're here to do everything we can to make sure you can make the very best of it, and I hope you're at school here in the fall, 'cause we need you," he told the students.
Many students say while their teachers have been doing the best they can with distance learning, nothing beats face-to-face interaction.
"I'm a hands-on learner, I want to get my hands on things, you know, work hard, get through my senior year and go to college," says Josh Ofori-Attah.
He also says he is confident that his peers are mature enough to take rules about masks and social distancing seriously.
"It's gonna be tough, but if we can get through this and at a certain point not wear masks anymore, it'll be great," says Ofori-Attah.
The state's largest teachers union called for staggered schedules and hybrid distance learning solutions to be implemented.