Westport Public Schools Delays Decision On In-Person Instruction

WESTPORT, CT — As Connecticut grapples with an increase in coronavirus cases, Westport Public Schools is temporarily delaying a decision on in-person instruction for a couple of days to allow Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice to receive more feedback.

The Board of Education, which has a virtual special meeting scheduled for Tuesday evening, announced the delay in an email to parents Monday. The town's public schools have been operating under a hybrid model since the beginning of the academic year.

As of Monday, 11 staffers currently are in quarantine due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), but there are no reported cases among district personnel or students, according to officials.

Townwide, there have been 373 confirmed coronavirus cases since the beginning of the pandemic, and there are another 17 "probable cases," state health officials said as of Friday.

On Sunday, Norwalk reported it was seeing a spike in coronavirus cases, with 28 new reported infections over the weekend.

"While we are sensitive to the fact that many in our school community eagerly await the Superintendent's decision on the next phase of reopening our schools, the Board has asked Mr. Scarice to briefly delay that decision until after a special meeting of the Board of Education tomorrow evening at 7 PM," the board wrote. "This meeting will give both the Board and the public an opportunity to hear our Superintendent’s proposed plan, and for our Superintendent to receive further feedback.

"Thank you for your patience as we seek to set the best path forward for our school community."