Category: Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT, CT – Superintendent Mike Testani today announced that the Bridgeport Public Schools will shift to remote learning on Monday, November 23, 2020.   The announcement comes in response to an increase in persons impacted or testing positive with the COVID-19 virus.   The decision to start remote learning on the 23^rd was in consultation with the Superintendent, the city’s health director, as well as other city leaders including the BOE.

BPS will continue to provide students with “grab & go” meal services and will continue to provide updates of any other developments.   Below is the letter that was issued by the Superintendent to the parents, guardians, teachers, and school administrators.  

Dear BPS Parents, Guardians, and Staff;

I hope you are safe and well. The Bridgeport Public Schools’ priority continues to be the health and safety of all our students and staff.   In the last few months, we have worked tirelessly to maintain in-person teaching and learning as we understand the importance and benefits of keeping schools opened.   However, the BPS and the Bridgeport Department of Public Health have been closely monitoring a spike in positive cases of COVID-19 affecting the Bridgeport community. The consistent increase in positive cases of COVID-19 in our community is cause for great concern at this time, as it affects our ability to safely keep our schools adequately staffed and safe for in-person learning. 

After consulting with the Bridgeport Department of Public Health the district has made the extremely difficult decision to transition to full remote learning starting November 23, 2020. We will re-evaluate the circumstances in three weeks and any necessary adjustments to our schedule. We believe this is the best decision for the Bridgeport Public Schools community at this time. 

The district has been working hard in the past several months to secure technology for all our students. At this time, all students have been provided with a device to engage in remote instruction. All teachers will report daily to their school building to provide remote instruction to their classes. Training on synchronous learning has also been provided to teachers and support staff. The district is in a much better position than we were in September. The focus of our work needs to shift from daily operations to remote teaching and learning and the delivery of instruction to all our students.

This pattern of positive COVID-19 cases in our community has been primarily due to spread in families and from community activities. I have previously communicated that Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Holiday recess would be critical times for our community. I ask that everyone continues to do their part to help mitigate the spread of this virus when out in the community and at social gatherings. Please wear your masks over your nose and mouth at all times when not at home and practice social distancing and healthy habits. It will take a community effort to get us back to in-person teaching and learning for our children.  All schools will provide grab and go meal service daily.

A few other extremely important points of information for all families and staff;

·        School buildings will continue to remain closed to the public. Only staff members will be in school building during the remote learning time period.

·        ALL Extracurricular activities will be virtual.

·        All winter athletics will be postponed.

·        Planning and Placement Team Meetings will be held virtually.  

·        Students in the process of reevaluations/being evaluated for special education purposes can have parents provide transportation to and from the schools for assessment purposes. 

·        Parents of students who need to pick up materials from a school must contact the building principal to work out a mutually agreeable time. 

·        Staff and parents must continue to report positive cases of COVID-19 to Their building principal.

The health and wellbeing of our students, staff, parents, and the community remains our top priority. The district will continue to closely monitor the situation and work with our health officials to provide you with updates. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Please stay healthy and safe and remember to take care of yourself and your family.

For additional information visit bridgeportedu.net, or follow the Superintendent for updates on Twitter https://twitter.com/michaeltestani3

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2020-11-12@11:22am–#Bridgeport CT– Firefighters dispatched to the Commerce Park Commercial Building at 4699 Main Street for a doctor locked in an exam room and unable to get out.

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2020-10-08@2:20pm–#Bridgeport CT– #cttraffic– A multi-car crash on Route 8/25 northbound between exits 5 and 6.

#Bridgeport CT–Health Director Morrissey reminding residents to “GetTestedBPT,” a prevention campaign designed to encourage residents to participate in the many free COVID-19 testing opportunities available weekly throughout the City of Bridgeport.

“I’ve been tested multiple times, and it may not be pleasant, but it’s quick and easy,” states Mayor Ganim. “Do it for yourself, for your family, and to benefit our community.   Doctor’s notes aren’t required at community pop-up sites, just show up and show your ID.  Please, get tested so we can protect the health of everyone in our Bridgeport community.”

Health Director Morrissey stated, “We are promoting COVID-19 testing because it’s important that we do all that we can to safeguard against any new cases in our city and our schools.  In addition, it’s important to continue to wear masks, wash hands, and socially distance.  Testing is a focus for the extra level of assurance that we each do our part to ‘Stop the Spread’.”

By visiting GetTestedBPT.com, residents are connected to daily and pop up testing sites. Testing sites are made available through a partnership between Bridgeport Health Department, the State of Connecticut and community healthcare providers; Optimus Healthcare, Southwest Community Health Center, Bridgeport Hospital and St. Vincent’s Medical Center.

October 7, 2020 testing will be available at Holy Tabernacle Church/Feed My Sheep Parking Lot 2271 North Avenue, Bridgeport 8:30am – 4pm, provided by Yale New Haven Health.

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Yesterday, the city council held their meeting and embattled city councilwoman Eneida Martinez was in attendance. She has not been seen since the homicide at Keystone Club on Barnum Avenue last week, which Martinez is a manager. I was told she allegedly said “I want everyone to know I will never forget my friends but will always remember my enemies” directed at city councilwoman Maria Periera who has been calling for her resignation . A number of council members then made statements of praise and support for her.

This morning this statement was found on Ernest Newton’s Facebook page:

“Good Morning All,Due to the nature of a pending investigation through the Bridgeport Police Department, where an unfortunate tragedy happened where this writer knows herself to be innocent this writer will temporarily refrain herself from participating in chairing or sitting in any committee meetings to allow ample time for the Bridgeport Police Department to conduct there investigation. Once the investigation is completed this writer will resume her duties as assigned. 1) Board of Police Commissions (Liaison)2) Bridgeport Housing Authority (Liaison) 1) Co-Chair of Ordinance 2) Committee member to Public Safety and Transportation. This decision is based on transparency to assure that all are comfortable during this investigation process into such a tragedy. Thank you”,

Councilwoman Eneida Martinez 139th District

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Bridgeport, CT – Today Acting Chief Garcia provided an update  for the community as the Detective Bureau works to solve recent homicides, other divisions of the department are proactive, and have stepped up visibility and surveillance.   Additional patrols as directed by the Chief will be visible throughout the city with a concentration on “hot spots.”

BPD reports that the majority of recent violent crimes were targeted incidents.  To combat these crimes and prevention of others, Bridgeport Police is working closely with other Taskforces and implementing Strategic Enforcement Teams in Patrol to monitor the hot spot areas with the goal of taking firearms off the streets and bringing those responsible to justice.  These efforts in the last month have resulted in PD recovery of 28 firearms and 19 arrests.   

While the department continues their efforts to take guns off the streets, the Acting Chief and the department are reaching out to community policing partnerships and to the public for assistance in providing tips that will help solve these crimes and prevent further violence.   BPD appreciates the community support and is asking residents with camera footage or any other information to come forward.   Individuals may remain anonymous by calling 203-576-TIPS or send a tip in writing with “T.I.P.S. Envelopes”  found at any Bridgeport Public Library.

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2020-10-01@9:01pm–#Bridgeport CT- Report of a water main break at Fairfield Avenue and Main Street. The roadway is blocked off.

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2020-10-01@6:52pm–#Bridgeport CT– Reports of shots fired at PT Barnum Housing with a report of a juvenile taken into custody.

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UPDATE ON RECENT VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDES

BRIDGEPORT, CT – This morning Mayor Ganim was joined by Acting Chief Garcia for an update
on the violent crimes that took place in Bridgeport over the past week and included four homicides.
The Bridgeport Police Detective Bureau is actively working to solve the homicide cases and is
near closure on three of the four and are now seeking public assistance.
Acting Chief Garcia reports that the department has already implemented strategic and tactical
plans to address curbing the violence, but public engagement and input is needed.
A “Strategic Enforcement Detail” (SED) is focusing on areas of the city that have shown increases
of concern via data driven tools provided by ShotSpotter and other reporting mechanisms. In
addition to work that SED is doing to retrieve illegal firearms, the Police Task Forces embedded
with FBI, DEA, ATF and CT State Police have also engaged in surveillance and other tip details
to execute warrants, make arrests and take guns off the streets. In September, BPD made more
than 13 arrests of known violent offenders and seized 21 guns.
Residents may notice patrols increased during the evening and overnight hours in areas of the city
that promulgate criminal activity. Partnering agencies like Project Longevity are reaching out to
returning citizens, and the Council of Churches has contacted the Bridgeport Police Department
to facilitate a Gun Buy Program to be scheduled at a date in the near future.
The Mayor along with the Acting Chief, Council members, partnering agencies, and community
leaders all stand together and are again urging the public to please engage and provide any tip that
may save a life and has the potential prevent further violence.
Any individual or family member with information can help stop the violence in our community
and seek justice for victims. The police department acknowledges that individuals may wish to
remain anonymous when providing tips, and they can do so by calling 203-576-TIPS or submit a
tip in writing via “Tip Envelopes” that can be found at any Bridgeport Public Library.

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