Connecticut school districts warn parents of potential March closures as highly contagious

Connecticut school districts warn parents of potential March closures as highly contagious coronavirus strains become more prevalent


Connecticut students may see more online learning in March, school administrators are telling families, as public health experts warn of another potential spike in coronavirus cases caused by the spread of highly contagious virus strains.

Fran Rabinowitz, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, said Thursday that districts have tried to bring back “as many students as they can” while case numbers were relatively low. But state epidemiologist Dr. Matthew Cartter has told school administrators that case numbers may again go up in late February or early March, she said.

“What I have heard from superintendents is, if they do go up ... we’ll transition to whatever model we need,” she said. For example, fully in-person learners may need to shift to a hybrid model, and/or hybrid students may need to go online-only, Rabinowtiz explained.

“We’d like to be able to give parents and families notice. I think what you’ll see superintendents sending out right now is: ‘Just be aware that this could happen,’” she said. Compared to last March, “we have much more facility in being able to transition to whatever we need to do,” she added.

Read more: https://www.courant.com/coronavirus/hc-news-coronavirus-new-strains-schools-20210129-smkcjkbtgnesfczl4d3h4zfmyi-story.html