Danbury Schools To Remain On Hybrid Model For Rest Of School Year

DANBURY, CT — The public schools will remain open using the hybrid attendance model through the remainder of the school year

Superintendent Sal Pascarella made the announcement in a letter to staff and parents Wednesday, attributing the decision to a "high community spread" of the coronavirus. He said the district was on track to open fully and in-person in the fall.

"We believe another change in our teaching model at this time would lead to disruptions in learning, numerous teacher changes, and increased medical concerns," Pascarella said.

The superintendent said the schools still could not accommodate all children in classes safely, even after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention modified their guidance from six feet distances between desks down to three.

"When any mitigation strategy is reduced, the result is an increased risk for COVID exposure and possible transmission," Pascarella said.

Parents could be "somewhat encouraged" by the fact that staff and students 16 and over will have had the opportunity to be vaccinated before full time in-person learning begins in the fall, the superintendent said, but he noted there was still no timetable to inoculate younger students.

The schools are currently on spring break, scheduled to reopen April 19. Pascarella expressed concern in his letter regarding travel that may occur during spring break, and asked families to be mindful of coronavirus mitigation protocols.