Will schools be open Monday? Maybe, says Superintendent Stephen Falcone, but he'll need to make sure it's safe first, and that determination hasn't been made yet.
Falcone explained his thinking in a message sent out to parents and others. The message is also posted now on the Home page of the Darien Public Schools website.
Here's the full text of Falcone's statement:
"First of all, I hope that this message finds you and your family safe and healthy following the hurricane-related events of the last week. Please rest assured that as we move through the stages of disaster recovery and relief, our primary concern as we make decisions regarding the resumption of school activities is the safety of our students and families. To that end, here is the latest information regarding the potential re-opening of schools.
"At this point, if certain conditions are met, our intention is to open schools Monday with a 90-minute delay. We will only open schools on Monday if:
- All school buildings have full power and are free from any storm-related safety concerns. We will not open any schools until all are fully functional.
- All school bus stops, and normal walking routes to school, are deemed to be free from any storm-related safety concerns.
- All roads on which buses must operate are accessible and safe.
"If all of these conditions are met, our plan would be to open school on Monday, Nov. 5 with a 90-minute delay. It is also important to note that we return to Eastern Standard Time on Sunday at 2 a.m., meaning that your clock goes back one hour.
"Additionally, in an effort to maintain continuity of instruction for our students, we plan to have a school day for all students and staff on Tuesday, Nov. 6 (Election Day). Please note that this had been scheduled as a professional development day for faculty and staff only. Like Monday, we would operate this school day with a 90-minute delay.
"Final information about the opening of school will be posted on the Darien Public Schools website (www.darienps.org) by 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4. This information will also be disseminated to the school community through all of the other means of communication at our disposal, including PTO email lists, EdAlert, phone chains, postings at the library, Town Hall, grocery stores, etc. and social media.
"Please note that the Darien Public Schools will be sensitive to any situations regarding living conditions which might result in student absences in the near future, and will be reviewing marking period and academic calendars for appropriate adjustments given this unprecedented weather event.
"Our administrative leadership team has worked closely with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of the town to coordinate our efforts that will best serve our school and town community. This has been a challenging time and your patience and cooperation are greatly appreciated. We will continue to maintain contact and provide information in as timely a manner as possible.
"Best regards,
"Stephen V. Falcone
"Superintendent of Schools"
