Rock Hill Elementary School Closing For Full Distance Learning

WALLINGFORD, CT — Rock Hill Elementary School in Wallingford is temporarily switching to full distance learning for all students due to the impact of recent quarantining of students and staff, officials announced Monday.

Rock Hill will be closed to in-person learning starting Tuesday, Dec. 1 with students returning to in-person classes on Wednesday, Dec. 9. All students will follow the full distance learning schedule while the school is closed.

Lunch will still be provided for pickup for students at Lyman Hall High School each day. It is also available at the HUBCAP on Center Street, according to Superintendent of Schools Salvatore Menzo.

“I know that everyone is working very hard to assist in helping stop the spread of COVID-19 in an effort to maintain the opening of schools; however, the lack of staff to provide in-person instruction, at this time, necessitates the closing of Rock Hill Elementary School,” Menzo said in an email to parents. “Administration has worked tirelessly to keep students in school, but unfortunately we are no longer able to fill the open positions for staff as a result of their need to quarantine.

“We appreciate your support and understanding in these challenging times.”

The Wallingford Board of Education recently approved Menzo's recommendation to keep the district's elementary schools, and special education programs, open for full in-person learning until at least Dec. 18. Menzo said if they get to Dec. 18 with elementary schools still open, families would be informed around that time if there will be a need to move to full-distance learning based on ongoing reviews of data.

The board also approved closing the town's high schools and middle schools for full distance learning until Jan. 19. However, Menzo recently said he would consider bringing the schools back to in-person learning sooner than Jan. 19 if coronavirus cases at the middle school and high school level dropped.