Coronavirus Milford: Schools To Close Beginning Monday

MILFORD, CT — The Milford Public Schools will close beginning Monday, March 16 and will remain closed "until further notice," school officials said.

Here is the full letter from Superintendent of Schools Anna Cutaia,

Dear Milford Public Schools Staff and Parents/Guardians,

I am writing to notify you we have made the decision to close the Milford Public Schools, beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 until further notice. We will re-evaluate this timeline within two weeks and will update all families accordingly. This decision does not come lightly and has been made with the primary goal of keeping the safety and health of our students, families and staff at the forefront.

While we do not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our community there is still cause for concern, given our proximity to nearby affected areas in Southwestern Connecticut and the continued news of confirmed cases across the state. Our state and local officials have partnered with us as this situation has unfolded. In the weeks ahead, we will continue to monitor the situation and be able to provide additional guidance.

In the meantime, I strongly urge you to look at the wide variety of materials and information
uploaded to our website under the COVID-19 button. In the same manner we have followed over the past few days, I am including information by topic below in keeping with our efforts toward transparency. Please read it carefully.

All Events Cancelled

ALL school events and activities are cancelled until further notice, as is standard practice in the event of a district closure. This includes both in-school and off-site gatherings, at any time of day or evening. This includes the Jonathan Law Senior Cotillion scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2020.
Supplemental Learning In an effort to maintain and sustain student learning during the school closure, we have developed a district website that includes a variety of standards aligned grade-level and department-specific choice activities for students.

Our 1:1 environment allows for an opportunity for families to use technology and digital resources to enhance and enrich student learning during time away from school. Specific information will be sent to you in a separate email. Our aim is to keep each child’s brain and body active. (To sign up for Milford breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

Info Systems Survey/District-Issued Devices

Earlier this week, you were sent a survey regarding your home internet access. The survey was distributed via SchoolMessenger email and phone/voice mail. If you haven’t yet responded to the survey, please do so as soon as possible.

Regarding district-issued devices, all students/staff are asked to bring their Chromebooks and other digital devices home, as well as any personal items that will be needed while school is closed. An additional survey was sent to parents of students in Grades 1 and 2 to determine if they wished to receive a district-issued device, appropriate for this age group. Distribution has begun to these students. If you didn't receive a Chromebook and need one, have questions, or need additional direction, please contact the IS Department at (203) 783-3446 or email Mr. Louis Giancola at lgiancola@milforded.org.

Status of 180-Day Requirement

As shared by the Connecticut Commissioner of Education, the last possible day of school will be June 30, 2020. Those school districts that close outright will be required to make up days by using as many days available in the month of June up to June 30th. If we seek a waiver through distance learning experiences that ensure compliance with state and federal laws and policies, (including, but not limited to, employment laws, collective bargaining agreements, and special education), the Connecticut State Department of Education and Connecticut State Board of Education will consider those learning days as part of the 180 school days.

Milford Public Schools will consider whether this option is viable and appropriate for our students and staff. In closing, please know we are grateful for your concern, your support, and your partnership. It is at times like these that we have an opportunity to demonstrate to one another how powerful it is to live in a ‘small city with a big heart.'