Brookfield Schools Closed Until After Nov. 3 Due to Coronavirus Outbreak

From the Town of Brookfield:

October 21, 2020

To: All residents

From: Steve Dunn, First Selectman

SCHOOL CLOSING

We have had an outbreak of the virus in our schools, so Superintendent Dr. John Barile, after discussion with Director of Public Health Dr. Raymond Sullivan and the Board of Education, decided to close schools until after November 3. Our goal is to return to a normal school schedule as soon as it is safe, and will keep you informed.

The schools have reported over 14 instances of either confirmed cases of COVID or staff and students who had direct contact with a positive person across three of our schools. This increase over the weekend and Monday precipitated the schools going back to remote learning until after November 3rd.

UPDATE ON NUMBER OF CASES

Since we last sent a CodeRED in July, the number of cases in town has grown slowly until the schools reported the above cases. Excluding the cases reported in the schools yesterday which are being confirmed, we have 238 cases to date reported in Brookfield with one additional death last month, which unfortunately brings total deaths to 9.

To ensure accuracy we only report cases confirmed by Dr. Sullivan.

ELECTIONS

After consulting with Dr. Barile and Dr. Sullivan, as well as our respective boards, voting will remain at Brookfield High School and Huckleberry Hill School. We are confident that we can keep these spaces safe for voting, and will clean them thoroughly before school starts again. We urge everyone to vote. If you vote by absentee ballot, we recommend that you fill out your ballot and drop it off directly at the Ballot Box in the front of Town Hall rather than mailing it. The box is secure and available 24 hours a day.

BOARD OF FINANCE MEETING ON OCTOBER 28 IN PERSON

The Board of Finance informational hearing on the proposed water line on Candlewood Lake Road, which will run north from Nabby Road to Huckleberry Hill School, is still scheduled at the high school auditorium on October 28 at 7 p.m. All safety precautions – wearing a mask and maintaining social distance -- will be taken to ensure attendees are kept safe.

MESSAGES TO RESIDENTS USING CodeRED

This is the 34th update during the pandemic we have sent to the town on the CodeRED system. As we are in the flu season, we will send important updates as needed. We are very aware of your need to be informed on a timely basis of major issues facing the town but we do not want to overuse the system.

We thank everyone for signing up for the system. We have over 1,200 users but would like to see that grow, so please tell your neighbors. You can sign up by clicking on the CodeRED icon on the bottom of the main page on the town website.

TOWN CLERK OFFICE

The town clerk is accepting all absentee ballots. We continue to safeguard all absentee ballots to ensure the safety and the integrity of the process. As an example, two employees always collect ballots from the Town Hall box. They are never out of sight of at least two employees until they are locked in the safe daily. Please call the Town Clerk’s office if you have any questions or concerns; remember that the office is only available for in-person visits by appointment.

This press release was produced by the Town of Brookfield. The views expressed are the author's own.