Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice today issued the following update to school families:

Dear Families of Westport Students:

Our community and the world has lived through a series of holidays since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Whether religious or secular in nature, we have all made tough decisions about the safest means to carry on traditions associated with them. Unfortunately tough decisions remain as we head into the fall and early winter holidays. I respectfully ask that you join me in making safe plans to celebrate the upcoming holidays, especially if including family and friends is to be considered.

Below is a list of the major holidays arriving shortly on our calendars. While not an exhaustive list, and certainly one that doesn’t take into account other celebrations such as anniversaries and birthdays, it does remind us of the dates and days of the week these holidays will take place.

Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020, is not a national holiday, but it is a day when schools are not in session. It is important for all of our students and families to remain vigilant with the use of mitigation strategies outside of school. (social distancing, mask wearing, etc.)

The Westport Public Schools adopted the “Guiding Principles” to provide a foundation for its work across the district and define outcomes they deem as essential for all students and are honoring students from each grade level whom they believe best embody these principles: Socially and Emotionally Aware, Kind with Sincerity, Principled in Thought and Action, and Learning Always. Pictured, from left to right: James Dobin-Smith, Colin Konstanty, and Caroline Caggiano. Missing from picture: Rachel Greenberg, Natalia Maidique, and Kyla Race. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By Jarret Liotta

Students may finally be back at Coleytown Middle School (CMS) by Dec. 14, but school officials can’t guarantee it.

Monday night the Board of Education (BOE) heard details about the transition plans, which will require Dec. 9 and 10 becoming fully remote school days for all middle school students to augment the move of equipment and furniture from Bedford Middle School (BMS) to CMS.

“I just want to be clear with the public ... There is some level of risk and there are some pieces that aren’t gonna be inherently in our control,” cautioned BOE Chair Candice Savin in regard to the dates.

“At this point right now we’re looking at Nov. 20 as being the date that the building committee will hand the building over to the board,” Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice said.

Superintendent Thomas Scarce sent the following email to parents today:

Earlier today Dr. Debra Dunn, Principal of Long Lots Elementary School, learned of another positive COVID-19 test in the school. The affected individual was already under quarantine at home and will continue to be excluded from the school environment. 

Upon learning of the positive COVID-19 case, the administration began immediate contact tracing. Those determined to be “close contacts,” including some staff members, and another fourth grade class of students, separate from the one I shared on October 15, 2020, have been notified. These individuals spent a significant amount of time in the presence of the positive case, and as a result, were informed that they will be excluded from the school environment and recommended to quarantine for 14 days and may return to school on October 30. They were also asked to reach out to their health care provider should they develop any symptoms consistent with COVID-19. To be clear, siblings and other family members of these children and staff do not need to quarantine.

As I have shared in prior communications of a similar nature, working closely with the Westport/Weston Health District and our medical advisor, it has been confirmed that the staff and students have implemented our mitigating measures by maintaining distance to the maximum extent possible, and by wearing masks. However, the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE)/Department of Public Health (DPH) guidance (Addendum 5 and Addendum 9) indicates that decisions for exclusion from school and quarantine will be based on the individual circumstances of each case, including those who have spent a significant amount of time (i.e. more than 15 minutes) in the presence of a positive case, regardless of mask wearing.

Superintendent Thomas Scarce sent the following email to parents tonight:

“Early this evening Dr. Debra Dunn, Principal of Long Lots Elementary School, learned of a positive COVID-19 test in the school.

“The affected individual will be excluded from the school environment and has been instructed to quarantine at home. 

“Upon learning of the positive COVID-19 case, the administration began immediate contact tracing.