Coronavirus Stamford: Large School Events Cancelled, More Updates

STAMFORD, CT — Stamford public school officials said they are cancelling events expected to draw large crowds and are preparing for the possibility of extended school closures as the state, and the nation, grapples with the novel coronavirus. In a statement released late Tuesday, the district announced "all SPS-sponsored events that are expected to draw a crowd of more than 100 people are canceled," effective Wednesday.

Any events scheduled to be held by outside organizations in any Stamford public school building are also canceled, officials said.

"As the district receives guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local authorities on a regular basis, we will update those impacted when the situation changes," district officials said in a statement.

As of Wednesday morning, two cases of the virus, now referred to as COVID-19, have been diagnosed in Connecticut, however none have been reported in Stamford. (Don't miss updates in Connecticut concerning the Coronavirus as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.)

The district has also canceled all in-person elementary report conferences "out of an abundance of caution." Instead, schools will offer conferences over the phone, during which teachers will call parents/guardians during their child's scheduled conference time.

Language interpretation will still be available during phone conferences, officials said.

Updates from the Superintendent

In a message sent to families Tuesday, Superintendent Tamu Lucero said the district will continue to work with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state departments of public health and education, the city and the city's health department "regarding the health and safety of our students and staff."

As of Wednesday morning, two Connecticut residents and two hospital employees have tested positive for the virus, now referred to as COVID-19. One Wilton resident tested positive on Sunday, and the second Connecticut resident to test positive is a Bethlehem woman who is a heath care worker at Bridgeport Hospital, officials said.

The two hospital employees are New York residents and work at Danbury, Norwalk and Bridgeport hospitals. The state lab so far has tested 56 individuals, with 54 negative results.

According to Lucero, the district is preparing in the event schools should need to be closed for an extended period of time.

"In the event that schools should close, we are preparing for distance learning opportunities for our students," Lucero said in a statement. "A survey was sent home to students in grades 6-12 to assess access to technology. The survey is available in English and Spanish; please complete the survey and submit it as soon as possible. In addition to the survey, we are working with teachers at all grade levels to develop a plan to provide educational resources in the event that there is a school closure."

Lucero said the district is also working with their food services department and receiving recommendations from the CDC, the CSDE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding ways to distribute meals to students in the event of a school closure.

In an effort to limit exposure for Stamford students and staff, the following "changes in daily operation" have also been put in place:

• Out-of-district and out-of-state field trips will be put on hold. International field trips are cancelled at this time.
• School-based after school programs that extend the regular school day and provide services to SPS students will remain in session.
• Large group events scheduled to be held in our schools will be postponed until further notice.
• Elementary Early Release Parent Conferences will still be held this week. Parents will be encouraged to use hand sanitizer stations as they enter the building.
• Winter tournaments: Based on a statement from the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC), the decision was made to cancel the remainder of its winter championship tournaments.
• Aggressive cleaning and disinfecting protocols will continue in schools and buses.
• Frequent hand-washing reminders will be provided for students and staff during the day.

"We recognize that our students and staff have prepared for field trips and events," Lucero said, "however we have an obligation to implement preventative health measures to lessen the chances of transmission of the COVID-19 virus."

Lucero also encouraged families to make sure their child's school has their most current contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses. Anyone with questions or concerns is encouraged to contact their child's school, the district office or the city's health department.

Further information regarding updates related to the virus can be found at the Stamford Public Schools website.