UPDATED: Greenwich Schools Continue to Limit Outdoor Activity Due to Air Quality

Update 5:00am Thursday, June 8: Greenwich Schools will open on schedule Thursday (no delay), but outdoor activities will again be limited.

Original Story 8:00pm, Wednesday: In an email from Greenwich Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones to staff and families around 7:30pm, she said air quality in Greenwich and throughout the region would be monitored through the evening and into the early morning hours Thursday and the district would rely on recommendations from health officials.

She said that while it was likely that all outdoor activity would again be limited on Thursday, the district would send out a notification by 5:00am if they decide to have a delayed opening due to possible smoky indoor conditions at many of the district’s buildings, especially in the older schools which lack centralized air and ventilation.

“Today, we found that buildings with decade-old windows allowed more infiltration of a smoky odor,” she wrote. “There is anticipation of another very heavy wave for the first few hours of the early morning. However, this could change throughout the evening.”

On Wednesday windows were kept shut, and air conditioning systems were closely monitored to ensure a healthy environment.

School nurses paid close attention and were ready to handle situations that involved students or staff if they had any difficulty.

Some students and staff asked for masks which were made available from leftover inventory.

For varsity sports, CIAC postponed outdoor playoff games.

There are great resources online to monitor the situation, including AirNow.gov, home of the U.S. Air Quality Index.

In addition, the district is receiving guidance from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Greenwich’s Department of Health, Greenwich’s Office of Emergency Management, Connecticut State Department of Education, and Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.  

“Thank you for your patience and cooperation, and please stay safely inside when possible this evening,” Jones wrote.