SHARE

New Canaan Schools To Open Thursday

NEW CANAAN, Conn. – The doors to New Canaan Public Schools will open on Thursday after Hurricane Irene delayed classes for a couple days, but students won't have homework this week.

All five schools will open for classes on Thursday on a 90-minute delayed schedule, Superintendent David Abbey said in a letter issued to parents on Wednesday. Schools were supposed to open on Tuesday, but massive power outages from Hurricane Irene delayed the start of the 2011-12 school year.

“Understanding that no undertaking is risk-free, particularly one that involves as many moving parts as a public school district, even under the best of circumstances, we believe that, with the additional resources that we are using as well as the planning that we have done, school should open safely,” Abbey said. “In the final analysis, I think that our students will be safer in school than out and about in the community.”

West Elementary School did not have power on Wednesday afternoon, but Abbey said he expects the school will have power back on Thursday. None of the students will receive homework on Thursday or Friday. Food service will be modified, but Abbey said no student will be denied breakfast or lunch if they don’t have enough money.

“Unfortunately, it has been a frustrating and difficult time for all of us,” Abbey said. “At this point, however, with extra doses of flexibility and understanding, at school and from home, we are ready to start the school year, and look forward to providing another terrific experience for our students.”

Abbey said the decision came after consultation with the town’s Emergency Operations Center, officials from the New Canaan Police and Fire departments, representatives from Connecticut Light and Power, the Department of Public Works and other officials.

Update: St. Aloysius School will also open Thursday under a 90-minute delay. St. Aloysius typically follows the New Canaan Schools schedule since their students share buses with New Canaan students.

How excited are you for the start of the new school year? Do you think it’s right to start the year before power is re-established throughout the town? Let us know by leaving a comment below. You can also visit our Facebook page.

to follow Daily Voice New Canaan and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE