Here are a few reasons why FCPS must close or else they will be sued...
1) "Stratford: A child tests positive for COVID-19. Before the positive test was announced, Wilcoxson Elementary School was closed after learning a student was exposed to a confirmed case of the coronavirus. All schools will now be closed until further notice."
https://www.wfsb.com/news/child-among-five-people-in-ct-with-coronavirus/article_484bc35e-6396-11ea-95fd-1f160607f1f6.html
2) "At the advice and counsel of our Town Health Department, we are taking an overabundance of caution and closing Stratford Public Schools effective Friday, March 13, 2020 until further notice. Again, Stratford Public Schools will close (effective, Friday, March 13, 2020), with an overabundance of caution to clean and prepare to move forward. I don't have a timeframe to give you, at this point in time."
https://www.stratfordk12.org/wilcoxson
3) Here's Superintendant Brabrand "please don't sue me" email sent a few minutes before Midnight last night.
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03/12/2020
Dear FCPS Families and Staff,
During the past several hours we continue to hear genuine concerns from parents about keeping our schools open while the coronavirus response escalates around the country. Schools are closing in Maryland and several other states and a state of emergency was declared in Virginia. As a result, and in an abundance of caution, I believe it is prudent for FCPS to cancel school tomorrow to help ease parent, staff, and student anxiety.
Therefore, all FCPS schools will be closed Friday, March 13, 2020.
School offices and central offices will open on time with an unscheduled leave policy in effect for 12-month employees. (Condition 2). The following activities in schools and on school grounds are canceled:
• extracurricular activities
• interscholastic contests
• team practices
• field trips
• middle school after-school programs
• professional learning and training courses
• adult and community education classes
• recreation programs and community use by outside groups not affiliated with FCPS
School age child care (SACC) centers are closed.
Monday, March 16, will remain a student holiday/staff development day to allow our classroom teachers to prepare for the possibility of distance learning.
This remains a very fast moving narrative and the situation Monday is likely to be very different than today. We will determine Monday how we will proceed long term with FCPS operations.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Scott Brabrand, Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools
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