Danbury Public Schools To Reopen With Hybrid Model

DANBURY, CT — The city's public schools will be reopening to a hybrid in-person learning model beginning Oct. 26 for all grades K-12. Preschool is expected to return the following week.

The announcement came in a letter to parents from Superintendent Sal Pascarella on Oct. 2.

A review of the data by the district's senior administration and medical team showed continued community spread of COVID-19, but a trending down of the numbers since the outbreak's peak beginning Aug. 21, according to Pascarella.

The public schools pivoted from their original reopening plan in August, after a significant increase in coronavirus cases prompted the State Department of Public Health to issue a COVID-19 advisory for the city. The infection rate in Danbury was 7 percent at the time of the advisory; it now hovers around 5 percent.

All busses will be operating according to all applicable federal, state, local guidelines, Pascarella said. Students are required to wear a mask for the duration of their ride to school, and must be wearing a mask to board the bus.

The district and medical team will continue to monitor the ongoing community spread of COVID-19 and will advise if adjustments to our learning model is necessary, Pascarella said in the letter.