Johnson House Switches To Remote Learning; Other Schools Opening

STRATFORD, CT — As many Stratford elementary schools take the first steps Monday toward a full reopening, Johnson House Elementary School will instead switch to online-only learning for the next week due to new coronavirus cases in the school community.

Over the weekend, officials were notified of one confirmed virus case and one presumptive case at the school, according to a letter Sunday from Superintendent Janet Robinson, who said Johnson House will offer only distance learning through Friday, with the possibility of an extended all-remote schedule.

“Contact tracing is still ongoing in regards to this case,” Robinson said. “We will notify you when all close contacts have been identified.”

The school district also reported one new case at Nichols Elementary School and another at Stratford High School. Additionally, a presumptive case at Bunnell High School was confirmed. Both Stratford and Bunnell high schools are on distance-learning-only schedules for the majority of November due to an increase in virus cases and quarantines.

District-wide as of early Monday, 37 students and 17 staff members were in isolation with the virus, and 683 students and staffers were in quarantine, according to the district's data dashboard, which reflects the most current available numbers.

Stratford is in the state's red alert coronavirus zone, with a rate of 28.6 daily cases per 100,000 people over a two-week period. Communities fall within the red zone when they have at least 15 daily cases per 100,000 people over two weeks. The state has previously encouraged towns with an average daily rate above 25 to consider switching to distance learning.

However, starting Monday in Stratford, many elementary students will be back in the classroom four days a week. Those in kindergarten and first grade will be in school full-time starting Monday, as will English language learners. Grades two through four are set to follow Nov. 23, and grades five and six will return full-time Nov. 30.

Johnson House serves students in grades two through six, so, barring an extension of the full-time distance learning schedule, its temporary closure will not affect plans for a full reopening.