First Day Of School In Groton

School for each of Groton's public schools, the Marine Science Magnet School and Grasso Technical High School was supposed to begin today but Hurricane Irene, which was downgraded to a tropical storm before it hit Groton Sunday, swept through the area, upended trees, downed power lines and left most of Groton's residents without electricity beginning on Saturday night or Sunday morning. 

On Sunday and Monday, more than 90 percent of CL&P customers in Groton were without electricity, including four of Groton's 11 public schools.  

And, Claude Chester Elementary School, which receives electricity from Groton Utilities, is without power because a rotten oak tree collapsed from the force of the wind and took down a high voltage power line with it. 

As of Tuesday evening, CL&P had restored power to approximately 20 percent of its Groton customers but four Groton public schools remain in the dark.  

The first day of school for Groton public schools has been postponed twice. Superintendent of Schools Paul Kadri said the first day of school is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 2, unless electricity is not restored, in which case the first day will be Tuesday, Sept. 6. 

The professional development that was rescheduled for today, will go on as scheduled but the day teachers can open up classrooms has to wait until the rooms have electricity.

Grasso Technical High School will begin school Tuesday, Sept. 6 and the Marine Science Magnet School, which is operated by LEARN, will begin Thursday, Sept. 1.