Westport schools were on a three-hour delayed start and Weston schools were dismissed early Tuesday so that staff members could prepare school work in the event the schools shut down due to the spread of coronavirus, officials say.  

Westport Public Schools operated on a delayed schedule for students only, according to a press release on the school district’s website.

Officials say the delayed opening was intended to provide additional planning time necessary for staff members to complete work associated with developing instructional materials, including online lessons, in the event of a prolonged school closing.

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All buses ran on a three hour delayed schedule. 

Officials in Weston say all Weston Public Schools had an early dismissal Tuesday. 

The district says the dismissal gives instructional staff dedicated time to plan for the possibility of school closures related to COVID-19.

"This necessary modification to the schedule will allow each of our schools to identify extended learning opportunities that will be made available to students through online access," the press release says. 

The early dismissal schedule is for Tuesday only and includes Weston Middle School and Weston High School, which had a dismissal of 11:45 a.m. 

Officials say Hurlbutt Elementary School and Weston Intermediate School had an early dismissal of 12:35 p.m.