About 90 minutes after Brookfield Supt. Toby Gibson informed parents on Nov. 16 that a second student had tested positive for COVID-19, he said that the school was closing to students and that and students would learn remotely as they did at the end of the previous school year.

“As many of you are aware, COVID-19 cases are reaching unprecedented levels throughout our state and county,” Gibson said in a phone call to parents. “The rising numbers are beginning to affect the district, burden our ability to maintain staffing for in-person learning and threaten the well-being of our students and staff. Due to the fluid situation of COVID-19 throughout the district, the Brookfield Local Schools will be moving to remote learning only beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 17, through Monday, Nov. 30. Tentatively, we will return to our hybrid plan on Tuesday, Dec. 1.”

Since the beginning of the school year, the school had had students attending school two or three days a week and learning from home the rest of the week. Parents had the option of keeping their children at home to learn remotely.

In an email informing parents of the most recent positive case, Gibson said the student who tested positive attended middle school.

promo“Through discussions with the Trumbull County Combined Health District, we have identified possible ‘contacts’ (individuals who were closer than six feet for 15 minutes or more), those individuals or families have been contacted by phone in regards to their possible exposure,” Gibson said.

Gibson informed parents Oct. 3 that an elementary student had tested positive, although there had been no school contacts with the student.

Starting last week, students were to attend school an extra day a week every other week, with a plan to boost in-school learning in January to four days a week. However, he has said repeatedly that it would not surprise him if the pandemic prompted the governor or school officials to close schools at any time.