COVID-19 cases at schools prompt different responses

With cases of COVID-19 popping up at area schools, districts have taken different tacks to corral and contain spread of the novel coronavirus.

Some have urged the individuals to quarantine at home while other cases have necessitated the switch from in-person schooling to distance learning.

School officials in Fairfield on Monday announced three more people — one at Tomlinson Middle School and two at Fairfield Ludlowe High School — had tested positive for COVID-19, but said no closures were necessary.

While the message from Superintendent of Schools Mike Cummings did not say if the positive cases are students or employees, it did explain that the two people who tested positive at Ludlowe High were already in quarantine.

“There is no need for anyone else at FLHS to self-quarantine and school will remain open,” the message said. “If there was a need for anyone to self-quarantine, they would be contacted directly by a member of the Fairfield Health Department Contact Tracing Team.”

In total, four students and one staff member in the district were currently confirmed positive for the virus as of Tuesday morning, according to the district’s COVID-19 portal. It also reported 40 students and 10 staff in quarantine.

Derby took similar measures: continuing with in-person learning bar the COVIDpositive individual.

According to a letter sent to families Tuesday, Superintendent Matthew Conway Jr. said one person was isolating at home after testing positive.

Conway said the positive tests involved someone at the Middle School and Irving Elementary School.

Conway also said steps would be taken to “mitigate further exposure,” with the Naugatuck Valley Health Department contacting those the person was in close contact with.

In Weston, school officials opted to state the school — Weston High — and identify the person who tested positive for COVID-19 as a staff member.

“The administration has been monitoring the situation, which occurred outside of school grounds,” said a letter sent to families Tuesday afternoon.

While there was “no risk of exposure on campus” based on a “thorough review” by the school’s coronavirus management team and the Weston Westport Health District, school officials said they announced the case in an effort to be transparent.

Unlike Fairfield, Derby and Weston, Shelton officials opted to transition the high school and intermediate school to full distance learning Tuesday after two more individuals at Shelton Intermediate School and one more at Shelton High had tested positive Friday for COVID-19.

Interim Superintendent Beth Smith said the decision stemmed from the number of staffers at each school who must be quarantined as a result of the positive tests.

Both schools will operate under a distance-learning model through Oct. 22.

A school community member at Perry Hill School was also announced as in quarantine, but although the school remains open — as does Sunnyside School, which also had someone test positive for the virus Tuesday — students in some groups at Perry Hill will be learning from home Wednesday.

“Some dyads at Perry Hill will engage in full distance learning starting Wednesday," Smith said. “(Principal Lorraine) Williams will communicate those specific dyads to parents (Tuesday night). The health and well being of our students, staff, parents and the community remains our top priority.”

Perry Hill School uses dyads – which consist of two teachers who instruct the same group of students, some 48 students altogether. One teacher teaches language arts and social studies, the other teaches math and science, then they swap students.

Smith did not have an exact number of students who will be required to distance learn or the amount of time the students will be away from the building.

“The Naugatuck Valley Health Department is in the process of contact tracing and will notify any individuals who have had contact with (those) who tested positive,” Smith said.

Up until Tuesday night, Smith said 19 staffers overall — six at Perry Hill School, eight at Shelton High and five at Shelton Intermediate — were under quarantine.