Colchester Elementary School to suspend in-person classes for two weeks after 3 staff members test positive for COVID-19, quarantines create staff shortage

Colchester Elementary School will suspend in-person classes for two weeks after three staff members tested positive for COVID-19 and ensuing quarantines created a staffing shortage.

The school will be closed entirely Tuesday, including no online classes, and will shift to remote learning only from Wednesday until at least Oct. 5, Colchester schools Superintendent Jeffrey Burt wrote in a letter to families.

“Three CES staff members currently in isolation have tested positive for COVID-19,” Burt wrote. “This necessitated the quarantining of additional staff as well as some students who came in direct contact with those staff members. Due to the number of staff currently in quarantine and the nature of their responsibilities, CES could not remain open and provide services to all students.”

Every student and staff member who had been in contact with the positive cases already were notified and already are in quarantine, Burt said.

“At this time, the only confirmed positive cases are staff members and they have been in isolation since September 20, 2020,” Burt said. “Based on extensive contact tracing by District staff and Chatham Public Health, there has been no known COVID-19 transmission to students at this time.”

All classes were canceled for Tuesday to give teachers time to prepare for remote learning to begin for every student on Wednesday. Details about remote learning will be sent to all families on Tuesday.

The elementary school and buses also will be disinfected, Burt added.

Zach Murdock can be reached zmurdock@courant.com.

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