All Stratford Schools Will Go Remote Into December

STRATFORD, CT — A day after teachers, parents and school board members expressed concern about keeping schools open as the coronavirus pandemic stretches into the holiday season, Stratford’s superintendent announced the district would pivot to distance learning.

When Stratford students began the week, some were learning remotely, others were in the classroom four days a week, and many were following the district’s default hybrid schedule. But Superintendent Janet Robinson said Tuesday that all schools would switch to online-only learning through Dec. 4, citing rising virus numbers in Stratford and across the state.

“While we hope to return to the hybrid model on Monday, December 7th, we will continue to monitor community spread of the virus and its impact upon our school communities,” Robinson said in a letter to parents.

At a school board meeting Monday, Robinson received pushback after moving forward with a plan to fully reopen elementary schools despite the increase in cases. As of early Wednesday, 42 students and 14 staff members were in isolation with the virus and 628 students and staffers were quarantined, according to the district dashboard, which reflects the most current available numbers.

“There has to be some element of common sense,” board member Janice Cupee said. “Everything is pointing in the direction of going remote until after the holidays.”

Kindergartners, first-graders and English language learners returned to the classroom full-time earlier in November, but plans for students in second, third and fourth grades to be in their school buildings four days per week starting Monday did not come to fruition. As of Monday, four elementary schools, both high schools in Stratford and the ALPHA Program had already moved to distance learning due to complications related to the virus.

Public speakers and board members advocated Monday for moving to a remote learning schedule short-term or continuing to use the hybrid model. Robinson, however, said the state Department of Public Health has advised that school is the safest place for children and staff, and noted that Greenwich, Darien and New Canaan had all executed full-time, in-person learning plans.

“You cannot compare us to Greenwich or Darien or New Canaan,” board member Andrea Corcoran said, adding the towns mentioned by Robinson have different resources than Stratford.

Vice Chair Amy Wiltsie expressed frustration that Gov. Ned Lamont had not provided a directive on when schools should consider remote learning, while board member Karen Rodia noted every municipality bordering Stratford had switched to online-only education.

“We’re perfectly willing to make the move if that’s where your comfort level is,” Robinson said.

Stratford teachers lined Main Street on Monday to protest what they said were unsafe working conditions. Later, at the school board meeting, Secretary Vincent Faggella predicted an uptick in virus cases after Thanksgiving.

“The spread is community spread,” he said. “The community is not being responsible … please, consider what your behavior is doing to your children and to your neighbors.”