Bridgeport Public Schools

January 5, 2022

Hello Bridgeport Public School Family,

First and foremost, I would like to sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and disruptions this unexpected school closure today may have caused you.

According to our weather service, the very cold ground surfaces appear to have played a significant role in the rapid freezing of road surfaces this morning. They are noting little or no icing on tree limbs and shrubs, which implies the icing was more a function of cold ground temperatures than cold air, most likely contributing to the refreezing of road surfaces even after treatments were applied. The originally predicted areas of freezing rain across eastern NY and western CT extended into lower Fairfield County, which was not what was expected to happen. There is always going to be uncertainty and potential for error when forecasting freezing rain events, especially ones that are expected to develop during the predawn hours and the commuting periods. Even slight changes in the expected intensity and coverage can lead to major impact outcomes. We did our best to stay on top of it, but once it started rolling, big issues erupted instantly. No freezing rain forecast is ever perfect, and this one certainly was not.

Again, I apologize for the sudden change of plans this morning, as I understand the impact this had on our staff, students, and families.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Testani
Superintendent of Schools