Letter from HFT President Carol Gale to Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez

Date: Mon, Oct 26, 2020 at 12:12 PM
Subject: HPS COVID status
Dear Leslie,

I am concerned with the significant increase in COVID cases experienced by the Hartford Public Schools last week. We had 18 positive COVID cases in 15 different buildings. That means more than one-third of our schools were affected. This spike in cases equals the number of cases in the two prior weeks, meaning our positivity rate doubled in one week.

This is a grave health and safety concern for our entire school community. It also poses interruptions in the delivery of instruction due to quarantine requirements resulting from contact tracing in each circumstance. It furthermore heightens the fear and anxiety so prevalent in our society during a pandemic.

Your last communication indicated that your next announcement would be on November 2. I urge you to communicate sooner given this recent spike in cases and to move the district to the hybrid plan as soon as possible for the health, safety, and welfare of all.

In full transparency, be aware that I will be sharing this communication and your response with my members who are increasingly frustrated and overwhelmed with the demands of teaching in a pandemic.

Respectfully yours,
Carol