Robinson Explains

90-Minute Delay Call

By Eliza Hallabeck

While Newtown High School and Newtown Middle School students began school at their regular times on Monday, March 7, the school district made the call by 6:30 am to postpone the opening of the elementary schools and Reed Intermediate School by 90 minutes, due to school bus drivers reporting road closures and more.

Following a day of rain showers, Newtown was hit by a hard rain storm Sunday night that dumped between two and three inches of rain on the town. A flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) on Sunday.

On Monday morning, Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson said she had been up since 4:30 am and had heard no word from the Public Works Department as to how the roads were in Newtown.

Newtown Public Works Director Fred Hurley said on Monday in most cases the school district is prepared for a possible school delay, like when snow is expected. When rain or other inclement weather interrupts the schools’ schedules, he said, it is not the practice for Public Works to notify the school district of any problems. Based on Monday’s weather, Mr Hurley said he will be recommending that both the school district and the first selectmen’s office will be notified in the future of any situations.

“It was nobody’s fault,” said Mr Hurley, Monday afternoon. “It was just one of those things.”

Mr Hurley said his department did not realize the extent of local flooding until nearly 5:30 am.

By 6:11 am Newtown Public School Transportation Co-Supervisor Cathy Hydeck called Dr Robinson. Dr Robinson said Ms Hydeck was “reading me a whole list of roads that were closed.”

While it was too late for the first tier of bus runs, which picks up students for the high school and middle school, Ms Hydeck, according to Dr Robinson, asked if it was not too late to postpone the next two tiers of bus runs to prevent complications.

“I just had no word at all outside of my own staff,” said the superintendent.

The decision was made, and by 6:30 am the school district notified households using the Connect Ed system. All households, except those that have requested not being notified by phone in the past, were called, according to Dr Robinson.

The announcement was also posted on the school district’s website.

“Due to road closures, all Newtown Elementary Schools and Reed Intermediate will have a 90-minute delay and no am kindergarten. Newtown High School and Newtown Middle School will be on regular time,” the statement said.

To check for school closure announcements online, go to the school district’s website, www.newtown.k12.ct.us.

School closure announcements are also updated on The Newtown Bee’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Updates from The Bee’s Twitter account can be automatically sent as a text message to a designated cellphone. For more information look up The Newtown Bee on Facebook and/or Twitter.