NORWICH–On Wednesday the Norwich School District announced the closure of in-person learning at the high school and middle schools. Norwich BOCES students, are also excused from the BOCES programs and the Junior Awards Ceremony scheduled for yesterday was also canceled.

Classes will be held virtually on Thursday.

“A positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the high school as well as a family member of one of our middle school staff. Both buildings will be closed for contact tracing and deep cleaning,” the disrtict told parents Wednesday. “Once the Department of Health has completed contact tracing, they will determine whether the buildings will be opened to resume in-person instruction on Friday, November 20. Continue to check our NCSD website and social media for updates,” read the school’s statement.

The district’s website is www.norwichcsd.org.

Stanford Gibson and Perry Browne have not changed their schedules.

This is not the first time class have been impacted due to the pandemic. Interim Superintendent Diana Bowers said a positive COVID-19 case at the middle school on Monday, October 26, also triggered a closure.

“The middle school building was closed on that day to allow a deep cleaning to be completed and to assist the DOH with contact tracing,” she said.

On Thursday morning the Norwich Board of Education also announced they had chosen a new superintendent. The board reported Scott Ryan had entered into an agreement with the district after a months-long search.

The board is currently undergoing contract negotiations and expects a smooth transition from Bowers to Ryan in January.