Coronavirus Greenwich: Schools Suspend Out Of State Travel

GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich public school officials said they are suspending all out of state field trips and preparing for the possibility of extended closures "out of an abundance of caution" in response to the spread of the new Coronavirus. Officials also said they are "constantly monitoring the situation" as changes occur in and around the state.

Over the weekend, the first Connecticut resident to test positive for the virus, now referred to as COVID-19, was reported in Wilton. A second person in the state tested positive for the virus Monday evening as well, according to Gov. Ned Lamont.

On Monday, Lamont also stopped out of state travel by state government employees for the time being. Currently, there are no known confirmed cases of the virus in Greenwich. (Don't miss updates in Connecticut concerning the Coronavirus as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.)

See also: Greenwich First Selectman Provides Update On Coronavirus

In a statement released Sunday, Superintendent Toni Jones said school officials will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis, taking guidance from the town's health department, the state department of health and the Center for Disease Control.

"Ultimately, our local Greenwich health authorities are the guiding beacon if the governor has not declared a state of emergency for Connecticut," Jones said in a statement.

Cleaning

The schools are currently undergoing nightly deep cleanings, in which "strong, yet safe disinfectants" are applied to all "high touch points" in the buildings.

"We have extended hours in the evening when the building is empty to make sure that the building is thoroughly deep cleaned every night, following protocol which is often utilized during flu season to minimize the spread of germs," Jones said.

Field Trips

As of Monday, all out of state field trips and travel have been suspended until further notice, including three groups scheduled to travel to New York City during the week of March 16-20, Jones said.

"Given the current state of emergency declared in New York, it would be unwise to continue those trips unless something changes in the next seven days, which is highly unlikely," Jones said.

Schools will communicate directly with students and families over the coming weeks on trip cancellations and rescheduling.

"There are many GPS trips planned for late April and May," Jones said. "We will remain optimistic that the level of concern has waned by that time, and the suspension of trips can be halted. We are working with travel vendors who are dealing with this issue across the country. Right now, health officials expect warmer weather to significantly slow the spread of the virus and assist to restore some normalcy in late spring."

Extended Closures

According to Jones, extended school closures will only occur if a state of emergency is declared by the governor.

"An extended closure would warrant a different approach to learning, and out of an abundance of caution, GPS is preparing for such an event," Jones said.

Should the need for extended closures arise in Greenwich, Jones said "alternate learning pathways" would be provided for home, as would food service for children who typically receive free and reduced meals.

"If one school site should experience a challenging situation, GPS may choose to close one school for a deeper cleaning for a period of time, just as we do during flu season," Jones said. "This decision would be made by working closely with the department of health."

She also noted that staff do not determine a COVID-19 diagnosis, as it is the responsibility of state and local health departments, which have liaisons who will work with school districts as cases arise.

Health Monitoring

Parents of any child who is "immune compromised" is asked to work with their school's principal or school nurse for any necessary accommodations. Jones said absences in this instance are excused, and the school will work with families to provide as much learning as possible to keep the student on pace with their classmates.

Students and parents are advised to let their principal, teacher or school counselor know if their home does not have internet access, as Greenwich public schools have a special program that provides internet hotspots free of charge for homes without access.

One hotspot works for multiple students within one family.

"This is an existing program, and is not a unique resource because of the Coronavirus," Jones said. "We remain committed to equity and access for all of our students."

What Can You Do?

Parents are asked to encourage students to bring their device home each day, and to be sure students can access the same programs they can access at school on any other devices available at home.

"This scenario is easier with Chromebooks than in grades 2-5 with their use of iPads, where some apps are specific to school use," Jones said. "We will be sending a separate instructional update later in the week with more detail for families as we proactively plan for an extended closure, which we hope doesn't happen.

More Information

Jones said the district is committed to communicating often with families in order to keep everyone well-informed. Further information and resources can be found in the health services section of the Greenwich Public Schools website.

"This is an unsettling time given the access to social media, news stories, and constant barrage of information which can be frightening, especially for children and young people," Jones said. "Thank you for supporting our staff as they work to keep a sense of normalcy and calm for our students."