17 East Haven Teachers In Quarantine After Holiday Party

EAST HAVEN, CT — Seventeen Joseph Melillo Middle School teachers were ordered into quarantine Tuesday after they attended a holiday party they organized at the Italian-American Club this weekend, a district official confirmed. One of the teachers, described as a party organizer, tested positive for the coronavirus after the party, the official said.

Last August, teachers protested the full, in-person reopening of schools asking instead for hybrid as they were concerned about their health and safety.

See also: >> A 3rd Of All East Haven Schools' COVID-19 Cases Are Teachers

The teachers were in school Monday and Tuesday and parents on social media said their children were placed in larger classrooms with one teacher Wednesday.

East Haven Public Schools Superintendent Erica Forti did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. She later sent a letter to parents Friday.

Board of Education Chair Michele A. DeLucia did speak with Patch. She confirmed the event was held, a teacher tested positive for the coronavirus and 17 teachers were quarantined. She also confirmed the teachers were in class Monday and Tuesday teaching students.

She said she was "personally very disappointed" and called the educators' decision to have a holiday party a “lack of judgment" at best.

"Though I understand that everyone wants to celebrate the holiday season, however, it’s important that we continue to keep our students at the forefront," she said.

The district has reported close to 100 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 since the beginning of the fall term. The COVID-19 tracker on the district's website as of 2 p.m. Wednesday did not reflect the fact 17 teachers were placed in quarantine.

DeLucia said she's "thankful" for the holiday vacation.

"The vacation at least means we have the time for people to quarantine because this has the potential to spread like wildfire causing the district to shut down," she said.

East Shore District Health Director Michael A. Pascucilla told Patch in a phone interview Wednesday night "those teachers should have known better."

"Just because they could get together doesn't mean they should," he said. "With all we know, from the superintendent to the health (department), the state (health) department, the CDC, gatherings are strongly discouraged. They were discouraged from doing it, and they did it anyway. From my point of view, they showed poor judgment."

When asked why the school was not closed after the positive case and subsequent quarantining of all the teachers at the party, Pascucilla explained that those people who have been placed in 10-day quarantine because they had direct contact with a person with the disease do so as a preventative measure. He said that most people in quarantine will not end up with COVID-19. And noted that if all the people who have come in contact with a person in quarantine were quarantined because of possible exposure, it would create a "domino effect and everyone would be in quarantine." He said "following the science, we would not close schools because a person may have been exposed."

"We have to follow the science," he said.

Meanwhile, Pascucilla said that he expects case numbers will increase significantly after the holidays: "I hope not, but unfortunately, our numbers are going to go up. People are getting sick, they're being hospitalized, and we have fatalities. People need to follow the guidelines. They need to follow the guidance. I hope they do."

Update: Friday, Dec. 25:

Forti sent the following letter home late on Christmas Eve Thursday:

"As you may have heard, several teachers from Joseph Melillo Middle School attended a social gathering last weekend, where they were exposed to a person who tested positive for COVID-19. This gathering was not sanctioned or sponsored by East Haven Public Schools. In consultation with the East Shore District Health Department, we directed that these teachers be quarantined as a result.

All potentially affected persons have been notified through contact tracing, and Principal Laura Lynn and I are reviewing this situation to determine whether any further action is appropriate. At this point, although not a school sanctioned event, it appears that the gathering complied with the Governor’s guidance.

East Haven teachers have been conscientious and dedicated to their students and colleagues
throughout this pandemic, and this gathering is an isolated incident. Nonetheless, we will be seeking additional information and following up accordingly.

I regret having to provide you this update on Christmas Eve, but I wanted to ensure the community has appropriate and accurate information. I wish you and your families restful and safe holidays."

Message From the Superinten... by Ellyn Santiago

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