First School Day Now

Set For September 6

By Eliza Hallabeck

On Tuesday, August 30, the day school was supposed to start in Newtown, Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson announced a one-week delay for school openings, to Tuesday, September 6. At the time, 78 percent of Newtown was still without power, and many roads were still impassable.

“I had a conversation with [First Selectman] Pat Llodra,” the superintendent said Tuesday morning, “and she gave me an update on how the town is doing.”

On Monday, 82 percent of Newtown was without power, and by the following, two days after Tropical Storm Irene made its way through the region, Dr Robinson said the improvement to 78 percent of the town still without power was not an optimistic change.

“This is not fast progress,” Dr Robinson said.

The update was also announced on the school district’s website, www.newtown.k12.ct.us, with an announcement from Dr Robinson: “The latest information is not optimistic for power restoration at our schools. We still have six schools closed and many roads throughout the town closed. To enable families to leave the area and possibly stay with family members who have power we have determined that it is in our best interest of the students that we designate Tuesday, September 6th as the first day of school.”

Dr Robinson said the decision also allows residents the chance to stay with relatives outside of Newtown until power is restored.

By Wednesday, Board of Education Chair William Hart said power had been restored at multiple Newtown public schools, including Newtown High School. Connecticut Light & Power was still reporting on Wednesday morning 57 percent of the town was without power.

With Newtown High School and Reed Intermediate School opened to the public for showers and more, Dr Robinson said on Wednesday no matter what, school needs to begin. The average school year loses four days during the winter due to weather-related school cancellations, with the exception of the last school year, Dr Robinson said, and this year already starts with four days off the calendar.

Dr Robinson also said she is preparing to ask the Board of Education during its planned Tuesday, September 6, meeting to add days to the school year from the district’s planned February break.

“We don’t have a lot of breaks,” said Dr Robinson, noting that the February break is the only point in the school calendar where the days can be easily made up.