Ansonia Mayor Cassetti declares state of emergency

Naugatuck Valley Health District issues press release on COVID-19

Sharing today's Facebook post from Seymour superintendent of schools

March 17, 2020

Good Evening Seymour Families,

We understand that there has been a lot of talk and concern about a potential plan for distance learning. We want you to realize that this was not the original plan that our State Department of Education had originally discussed and has been shared with you in previous communications. Nothing like this has ever happened in terms of its impact on education and as such the information that has come in has been ever-changing. In terms of a brief recap of all that has occurred from last week up until now: There has been a lot of discussion about how individual school districts are handling the COVID-19 crisis.

As of last Thursday afternoon, fourteen school districts in the state had applied for the distance learning waiver. At that time, only nine of these districts had been granted the waiver. This waiver caused severe concerns amongst Superintendents and Board of Education Chairs as it required their signature to validate that all of our students learning needs were being met. We all agreed that even the best distance learning programs could not replace our teachers and meet the variety of learning needs that our students have. Districts that had stated they had a waiver that was signed off by the state, were those districts that took on that risk against legal advice. The reality is that the majority of School Districts (156 in total) had not made the choice to utilize distance learning as it was not deemed equitable for all. The Commissioner of Education also stated that districts should treat these immediate days (2 weeks) as inclement weather days and possibly seek to provide students with some supplemental work, but the directive was to not try to replace the normal learning day.

However, yesterday Superintendents received notification from the Commissioner of Education stating that he wanted us to further look into distance learning as a reality in the event that we are out longer than the April 1, 2020 date issued by the Governor on Sunday evening even though, he stated prior that he wanted us to just treat the days as inclement weather days. Later yesterday evening, our Commissioner of Education shared that he would provide resources for school districts to use in order to move forward with distance learning in the near future. He also shared that districts no longer have to submit the 180 day waiver.

Area Superintendents as well as members of my team have been continually researching additional ways to do this. I have also spoken with Teacher Union leadership for their further input on this. Our Union President has agreed with our stance since the beginning. We will continue to look for further guidance and the model from the Commissioner of Education that he will eventually share with us, but we feel that something needs to be done now for our students.

In terms of our plans going forward with distance learning starting next Monday, March 23, 2020:

We will disseminate technology if needed by some students.
In order to receive technology, please have this google sign form filled out prior to dissemination. In order to access the form, you will need to log in using your child’s Seymour schools login. Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/…/1N8iYbfmBGx1LqRT0fvrNbLM5Urz…/edit
Members of our technology team will hand out devices to anyone that has a completed form on March 18 from 12:00pm – 3:00pm, March 19 from 4:00pm – 6:00pm, and March 21 from 10:00am – 1:00pm all at Seymour Middle School. There will be no need to get out of your car as this will be a drive by pick up of the technology at SMS.
In the event, you do not have Internet access at your home, please use this link from Comcast where those who do not have access to the Internet, can receive it free for 60 days. 

Please see the link below for information on 2 months of free internet service in response to COVID-19: https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19
Teachers will be online on Friday March 20 to do a quick check in with the students and to test the platform that they will be using.

Plan for Digital Learning Outlined

We want all to know, that Seymour Public Schools recognizes this is a concerning time for all and that no digital plan will ever replace your child’s teacher. However, we have to move forward the best way that we can so that our students can continue to learn and grow. This being the case, it is not our intention for our students to be staring at a computer screen for 7-8 hours a day. Our students in grades K-12 should have approximately four hours of work each school day in order to keep them focused and to continue their learning the best way possible. All principals, teachers, and staff will periodically check in to assess and receive feedback about what you may be seeing at home and what may need to be adjusted. We want to thank you in advance for your patience and partnership! While this may change when we receive further guidance from the Commissioner of Education, here is the plan that we will use.

The student day would be a shortened day, however, staff would be working a full day to support student distance learning. The student day would be planned for approximately:

Up to 1.5 hours per day for Pre K

Up to 4 hours per day for Kindergarten to Grade 12. Our learning goals will focus on the application of critical skills and core content objectives. The activity will also be designed to maximize the likelihood that students can complete the activity with independence as this will minimize the number of challenges for parents during this emergency period. This will also promote students being self-directed learners, which is an important 21st century skill. However, our teachers and staff will be available from 8:00am – 2:00pm to answer student or parent questions that arise.

The implementation of this plan signifies a significant emergency. As such, we have asked all staff to help in any way needed to ensure an equitable learning experience for students. Please note that during this time of working remotely, our staff will be expected to be actively engaged in work during the hours of 8:00am -2:00pm and to be available for calls, video conferencing if the teacher chooses, email and messaging exchanges, and the like. All staff that are expected to work will be available by email or other form of acceptable electronic communication to support students who are working on these learning assignments, assist families, or reply to questions or requests.

In terms of a Schedule: teachers would plan for the scheduled day.

Teachers in Grades K - 5 may choose to work together to post a common assignment for their students or they may choose to link theirs individually.
Teachers in Grades 6 - 12 will link their assignments individually by the day, their class period and name. (For example DAY A, Mrs. Smith, grade 9 Social Studies period 1).

Google GSuite is the familiar platform for most of our students in Grades K-12. The GSuite includes Gmail, Google Docs, Google Classroom, Google Meet, Google Sheets, etc.) and is used by most teachers. For video conferencing in small or large groups, the district would use Google Meet (formerly Hangout). We will have one dedicated technology person overseeing each of the four buildings for questions, they are available from 8:00am to 4:00pm.:

Seymour High School: Charles Daniels

on Google Chat - cdaniels@seymourschools.org

via E-mail - cdaniels@seymourschools.org

via Phone 203-463-3036

Remote Desktop Support

Seymour Middle School: David Moktan

on Google Chat - dmoktan@seymourschools.org

via E-mail - dmoktan@seymourschools.org

via Phone 203-463-3037

Remote Desktop Support

Bungay School: Derrick Martin

on Google Chat - dmartin@seymourschools.org

via E-mail - dmartin@seymourschools.org

via Phone - 203-463-3035

Remote Desktop Support

Chatfield LoPresti School: Rob Dyer

on Google Chat - rdyer@seymourschools.org

via E-mail - rdyer@seymourschools.org

via Phone - 203-463-3040

Remote Desktop Support

If you or your child needs a refresher on google classroom click this link (Here is a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k388Q8xvsXg)

In the event that a student/family is not responding to email or they are not doing their assigned work, the student’s teacher and also their Guidance Counselor or Social Worker will reach out to you to see if further assistance is needed.

Our Guidance Department and Social Workers will be available between 8:00am – 2:00pm to answer any questions that you may have about your child. They will also be available to speak with your children if and when they need to between the hours of 8:00am and 2:00pm.

We recognize that our staff and our families may be stressed or worried. That is why we encourage all staff to take the time to assess their students’ mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. How are they doing? How are their families? Teachers should check-in with their students, as long as this distance learning is in place. Once again, just like when school is in-person in school buildings, if teachers are concerned about students, they should reach out to support staff and administration.

We will make our best efforts so that online content and instruction must be made accessible to all students to the best extent possible, including students with special needs, during distance learning days. Teachers will attempt to plan learning activities that are differentiated for specific learning profiles. The teacher’s approach will be consistent with each individual’s accommodations in the course of a regular school day. No student’s status or ability to complete the expected work on a distance learning day should be impacted by their special education or 504 or ELL status. Our Special Education teachers will continue to provide modifications to posted assignments for the students that they work with. We are currently working with our Director of Pupil Services who will send out a communication on how annual reviews, triennials, transition meetings, and initial referrals will be conducted during this time.

It is expected that our teachers will provide expectations and feedback to students as to when they need to submit assignments via Google Classroom and/or share completed documents, either through email or individual learning platforms, for feedback and or grading. Teachers should keep track of the assignments and the level of participation/work completion for each student. They should then be graded and given credit in a manner consistent with the teacher’s existing grading policies. Students with accommodations should have the same latitude in timeline, support and standards for completion for this work as they would for any other at-home assignment. It is the responsibility of the student to complete the learning task to the best of their ability based on the current surrounding circumstances and return it to the teacher so it can receive credit for completion and/or grades. Like in-person school sessions, if a student is ill or unable to participate for a documented reason, the teacher would notify the student of expectations given the individual circumstances.

In the event that your child wishes to receive free lunch, our Food Service Department will be offering a grab and go lunch bag at the front of Seymour Middle School between 11:00am – 1:00pm on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the following week. This is being offered to all families, regardless of meal status. More days to come if we are to remain closed.

Please continue to look on the following mediums for any communications from our schools:

Seymour Schools Facebook
Seymour Schools website

Throughout this time, flexibility is the key to support distance learning along with supporting individual students and families. We realize that this is a new process for everyone and we may need to make changes as we go, but remember it is the students that we are here for. Keeping their learning in mind and us making our best efforts to achieve this, will help us to get through this.

If you have any questions about COVID-19, please call 2-1-1. We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. Please be assured that my team will continue to monitor the situation daily and will keep you informed as changes occur. Remember, that together we will get through this as a team. We still remain positive and hopeful that we will resume our normal school routines on April 1, 2020. However, by utilizing this platform, our last day of school will be on June 12, 2020 as opposed to June 25, 2020 as we had originally though. Therefore, we are in essence only adding 1 additional day to the calendar. This being the case, our graduation date will be also be set for June 12, 2020 per the Chair of the Board of Education.

As we all know, this situation is ever-changing and we are trying to stay on top of it the best way we can. Please make every effort to keep your families safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Michael Wilson

Superintendent

Artfish 42 gallery in Milford temporarily closes shop

Ansonia Police Department announces change of procedures

"The Ansonia Police Department is a service oriented agency and has a tremendous relationship with our community. 
As first responders, we are responsible for the safety of our community and take that responsibility seriously. 
In order to combat this COVID-19 outbreak and maintain the safety of our community, we are temporarily adjusting our protocols.
Effective immediately, the Ansonia Police Department will be implementing protective measures for police services within the City of Ansonia to prevent the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The Ansonia Police Department is temporarily requiring our police officers to limit their response to any calls that are not in progress or are non-violent offenses. When possible, calls will be handled over the phone by officers.
For all non-emergency calls, the caller will be contacted to determine if an Ansonia Police officer is required to respond to the scene. If the officer is not required but a report is needed, the report will be generated over the phone.
For all calls of an emergency nature, the current procedures which are in place will be followed.
Should you have reason to speak to a dispatcher or an officer, you should expect to be asked a series of questions which will assist in screening potential exposure incidents. The caller may also be asked to meet the officer outside if the caller is able to do so.
The Ansonia Police Department lobby area access is being restricted to avoid citizens from coming into contact with surfaces that may transmit the virus. 
If you must come to the Police Department, please call prior to arrival. Do not enter the building. If needed, an officer will meet you on the exterior of the entrance.
The non-emergency number to call for assistance is 203-735-1885.
All civilian personnel are still working at the police department and will be available for phone conversations. They can be contacted at the non-emergency number.
The Records Department will be available to electronically send reports during this time period and can be contacted at 203-736-2454 or 203-735-1885.
We anticipate that these changes are temporary and we thank you for your anticipated patience and cooperation."

Dziekan shares restaurants, delis in Derby to patronize

Mayor Dziekan signs emergency declaration for City of Derby

Richard Dziekan

DERBY - With all of the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, earlier today I signed an emergency declaration for the City of Derby. 

This move loosens some constraints in the City Charter and allows us to react quickly to any issues that may arise over the coming weeks. I want to make it clear that we do not have any confirmed cases of Coronavirus here in Derby, but we are following the recommendation of the city attorney, our local emergency management department, and other professionals who have advised me to take this step.

The main reason for doing so is to open up access to state and federal funding that would not otherwise be available. 

With this declaration, I also have certain latitude to manage this crisis I would normally not have, including the ability to make emergency purchases of equipment to support critical functions like the PD and other first responders.

Our main priority is the safety of our staff and residents. We understand that some actions that have been taken thus far may cause hardship for our residents. Please know that we do not make these difficult decisions lightly and we ask for your continued patience and understanding as we work through this difficult period.

As the home to Griffin Hospital and its Cancer Center, we wish to protect all our residents and patients of the Hospital during this difficult time. 
We have been in contact with Griffin Hospital and the Naugatuck Valley Health District to keep the lines of communication open and transparent. Together we will work to reduce the exposure of our citizens and guests.

Derby City Hall, the Veterans Community Center, the Senior Center, and Derby Public Library will remain closed as announced last week and our schools will be closed until at least March 27, 2020. All in person, board and commission meetings will be cancelled until the end of March and updates on meeting schedules for April will be announced at a later date. Certain meetings will take place via the Zoom application and will be posted to the city website. All other city events are cancelled and will be rescheduled if possible.

I ask that all residents continue to be vigilant about protecting themselves and each other from the virus. Most importantly, please avoid all unnecessary gatherings. If you must go out in public, use social distancing to limit your contact with others and wash your hands frequently. If you are feeling sick, it is highly recommended that you remain home to avoid spreading the illness. Please reach out via phone, text or email to family and friends who may live alone to make sure they are feeling ok. 

If you believe you or someone in your family has contracted COVID-19, please contact your healthcare provider or emergency room rather than going to the emergency room to seek testing.

We’re all in this together so it is important that we make a collective effort to protect the vulnerable in our community. 

A copy of the Emergency Declaration is attached to this document.

We would like to direct our residents to the following resources to familiarize themselves with the facts about the virus and precautions that should be taken:

Naugatuck Valley Health District - http://www.nvhd.org/coronaviruses/COVID-19/ 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html 

Dial 2-1-1 or text CTCOVID to 898211 with questions or concerns.

We are acting out of an abundance of caution and have no reason to believe that there is currently any immediate cause for concern in Derby. 

It is important that we do everything in our power to keep it that way. We encourage our residents to approach this virus with caution and to follow the steps recommended by public health officials to reduce unnecessary contact and slow the spread. 
I understand many residents may disagree with this decision, but we ask for patience and understanding as we work through this together. This situation is very fluid and we are following the most current directives of our local health department and the state and federal governments. We will continue to update you in the coming days as more information becomes available.

If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at 203.736.1450 Extension 221 or www.derbyct.gov.

Klarides-Ditria shares info for workers, small business owners

Dear Neighbors,

As my fellow elected officials and I continue to monitor the spread of the Coronavirus in Connecticut, I wanted to share some information for our workers and small business owners from the State of Connecticut's official Coronavirus web page.

SBA assistance: On March 16, the U.S. Small Business Administration approved Governor Lamont's request to begin offering disaster-relief loans to Connecticut small businesses and nonprofits. Companies in the state can now apply for loans of up to $2 million through a special page on the SBA website. SBA also has more valuable information for businesses.

Filing extensions: The Department of Revenue Services has extended deadlines for filing and payments associated with certain state business tax returns. Details are on DRS’s website.

Unemployment assistance: Workers directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic no longer must be actively searching for work to qualify for unemployment assistance. And employers who are furloughing workers can use the Department of Labor’s shared work program, which allows businesses to reduce working hours and have those wages supplemented with unemployment insurance. DOL has more information about these and other changes.

Additionally, I have included several links below for residents and business owners of the 105th district to get the most up-to-date information from local, state, and federal officials.

Coronavirus Informational Links

Federal resources:

- Centers For Disease Control: Click Here

- CDC’s latest news releases: Click Here

- Mental Health Resources: Click Here

- U.S. Department of Labor: Click Here

- U.S. Small Business Administration: Click Here

- CDC Information for Healthcare Providers: Click Here

- CDC Information for Healthcare Facilities: Click Here


State of Connecticut resources:

- State of Connecticut Official Site: Click Here

- State of Connecticut Info Hotline: Dial 2-1-1

- List of Emergency Orders Issued: Click Here

- State of Connecticut School resources: Click Here

- State of Connecticut Business resources: Click Here

- Childcare Provider resources: Click Here

- State of Connecticut Department of Labor: Click Here

- Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance FAQ: Click Here

- Department of Economic and Community Development: Click Here

Local resources:
- Griffin Health Coronavirus Information: Click Here


DERBY:
- Naugatuck Valley Health District (Derby): Click Here
- Town Website: Click Here
- Derby Public Schools: Click Here

BEACON FALLS:
- Naugatuck Valley Health District (Beacon Falls): Click Here
- Town Website: Click Here
- Region 16 Public Schools: Click Here

SEYMOUR:
- Naugatuck Valley Health District (Seymour): Click Here
- Town Website: Click Here
- Seymour Public Schools: Click Here


If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at Nicole.Klarides-Ditria@housegop.ct.gov or call 860-240-8700.


Sincerely,

State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria

Health District says COVID 19 circulating in Valley, expects increase in cases

Sharing from a post today (3-17) on the Naugatuck Valley Health District Facebook page:

Naugatuck Valley COVID-19 Update

The Naugatuck Valley Health District (NVHD), like many other jurisdictions in Connecticut, has learned that there is at least one laboratory confirmed positive case and a presumed positive case of COVID-19 among residents in our jurisdiction.

We expect that the number of confirmed cases will rise with the increased availability of commercial laboratory testing. Additionally, community spread/transmission is now occurring. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.

No further details about the residents will be provided to protect their privacy. In the age of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly referred to as HIPAA, no disease outbreak on this scale has ever been experienced. However, it is important to remember that during a public health emergency, such as a disease outbreak, the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules still apply and that the privacy of our residents must be protected to the extent possible.

How will I know if I came in close contact with a confirmed positive case of COVID-19?

• Those who have come in contact with individuals who are positive with COVID-19 outside of a healthcare setting are referred to as “community contacts” and will be notified by the local health department for the town they reside in. Individuals will be advised to self-quarantine and monitor their symptoms.

• Individuals who reside in the same household as a confirmed positive case will be required to self-quarantine with public health supervision performed by the local health department.

• If an exposure occurs within a healthcare setting, that agency will take the lead on contacting and monitoring the individual(s) for the duration of their self-quarantine.

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. Please do not show up without calling first.

What can I do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
There is currently no vaccine or antiviral medication to prevent or lessen the impact of this particular coronavirus so the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to it and avoid close contact with people who are sick.

It is extremely important to practice social distancing and stay home as much as possible. We understand this may be disruptive and difficult, and may even seem extreme but these are the strongest public health steps we can take as a community to slow the spread of this virus, protect the most at-risk members of our community from serious illness, and prevent our healthcare systems from becoming overwhelmed.

Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Please call your medical provider before showing up.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Where can I find information about laboratory confirmed cases in CT?
At the state level, the latest COVID-19 testing data which can be accessed at www.ct.gov/coronavirus.

NVHD will also post aggregate testing data when it becomes available on our webpage www.nvhd.org/coronaviruses/COVID-19.

Where can I find additional information?
If you have any general questions related to COVID-19 after reviewing this information, you can call 2-1-1 or text "CTCOVID" to 898211. This hotline is available 24 hours a day and in multiple languages.

Additionally, Griffin Health is offering an information hotline at 203-204-1053 for patients, visitors, and community residents who have questions about COVID-19. Griffin caregivers will be available to answer questions Monday – Friday from 8:00AM – 5:00PM.

Online resources:
• www.coronavirus.gov
• www.ct.gov/coronavirus
• www.nvhd.org/coronaviruses/COVID-19

For tips on taking care of your behavioral health and coping with stress and/or anxiety during an infectious disease outbreak, please visit https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Pages/Behavioral-Health or https://www.cdc.gov/…/…/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html.

Naugatuck Valley Health District will continue to post updates and information on our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIN).

Hazardous waste, paint collection day in Naugatuck postponed

The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) has postponed its Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Paint Collection Day that was scheduled to take place April 4 in Naugatuck due to the developing CODV-19 crisis.

NVCOG HHW events serve the towns of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Cheshire, Derby, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Seymour, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott and Woodbury.

The next event currently scheduled will take place at Crosby High School in Waterbury on July 18, 2020.

Please future updates this program, please visit NVCOG’s HHW webpage: http://nvcogct.org/content/household-hazardous-waste as well as look for posts on social media channels and on local, municipal websites. 

Information on how to properly dispose of common household items is also featured on    the NVCOG HHW webpage.

*Shared from the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Food assistance available at several locations in Valley

Sharing from Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Facebook page:

In other news, Happy St. Patrick's Day

Sandra Boynton's art work always makes me smile!

Ansonia Police seek public's help in locating teen

From Ansonia Police Department March 15 at 11:48 PM 
UPDATE -- CAROLINE WINEK RETURNED HOME SAFELY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING

Caroline Winek

From Ansonia Police Department Facebook page:

RUNAWAY / MISSING JUVENILE

Caroline Winek, age 15, was last seen in the area of Savelle Road today [Sunday] around 7:30 P.M. 

Caroline is 5'6" tall, 125 pounds with blonde hair and brown eyes wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and black sweatpants. 

The Ansonia Police Department is looking for the public's assistance in locating Caroline. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police department at 203-735-1885.

Recuperation journey: Memory from March 17, 2017

Facebook memory reminds us that wintry weather was here in the Valley on St. Patrick's Day three years ago. 🍀