Reopening Schools: August 3 Update

Dear Friends and Families,

I hope you are enjoying the best weather Vermont has to offer. Even when we’re working inside all day, it is energizing to look outside and see the sun and blue skies -- and even the beautiful clouds that form this time of year. We are continuing to put plans together for the opening of schools, but clearly, there are some changes in store.

Opening Day:
Governor Scott signed an executive order last week pushing back the start of school to September 8. We are reviewing our own calendar to see what other changes this will require, even as we hear rumors that the legislature may want to have some part in defining the rest of the calendar.

We are happy and relieved to have this additional time to work with our faculty and staff. While groups of teachers have been working with administration all summer long to design our models, these two weeks prior to September 8 will be our first opportunity to have all faculty and staff working together to ensure that we have a thoughtful, thorough, and deliberate plan for bringing our students back to school.

K-8 Opening Models - CVSD Board Meeting, August 4, at 6:00 PM
The K-8 Principals, along with the Director of Learning and Innovation, will be presenting our K-8 model for opening schools at the August 4 school board meeting. Currently, this model includes a hybrid and fully remote option for students. Following the board meeting, you will be able to access details of this plan at the CVSD Reopening site and on Wednesday, you will receive a communication asking for your preference. Whether your students are in hybrid or fully remote mode, they will be connected with teachers, with classmates, and with their educational program. This may be in person, via live classes, or recorded classes.

As you know, our decision to go fully hybrid K-12 was based on the current guidance from the Agency of Education which in turn was informed by the Department of Health and CDC guidelines. We are hearing, as I am sure you are, that these guidelines may be adjusted to allow for significantly less social distancing than the current ones allow. If and when that becomes reality, we will review our situation and plan accordingly. This does not mean that we would immediately change our model; it does mean that we would immediately re-assess and plan for changes to our model - based on the new guidelines, the Vermont context, our own local situation, as well as our faculty and staff readiness. We believe this to be a prudent and wise course of action. Starting slow and opening the spigot, as the Governor frames it, has merit in the opening of our schools. There are many systems that need to be tested, many procedures and protocols that need to be ingrained, and much needs to be done to ensure that everyone feels safe. By opening at half-capacity, even for only the first few weeks, will ensure that we’ve figured out bus pick-ups and drop-offs, daily student and staff health checks, and managing mask-wearing and social distancing etiquette. It will also ensure that should we need to revert to hybrid or remote learning during the school year, we will have had a dry-run and will not lose time figuring it out in the middle of a “crisis”.

Placement of Students during Hybrid Learning
All students K-12 will be divided alphabetically by last name A-K and L-Z as a first split. Adjustments to the split will be made in order for schools to ensure balanced, heterogeneous groupings. Parents may submit a request for a change of placement. Each school will share their process for making these requests with you. Priority will be given to family needs first. Other unique considerations will include childcare plans and family work schedules.

Instructional Supervision/ Childcare
This is our most immediate area of focus. We know that this is a challenge for our families and for our faculty and staff, and we know for any hybrid model to work, this component has to be in place. To that end, a local committee is working to identify practical and affordable options for all families. Several community partners have already reached out to collaborate with us in providing creative options. Jeff O’Hara, our Part II partner, has also reached out to offer his support. Regionally, the Champlain Valley Superintendents have reached out to Let’s Grow Kids, Building Bright Futures, and the VT Child Development Division. They too are eager to work with us to coordinate supervision/ childcare in Chittenden County.

Outdoor Classrooms/ Education
We recognize the opportunity presented for enhancing and fully developing our outdoor classroom models. To that end, I am charging a committee of CVSD educators who have been at the forefront of this work to come together to design, plan and think creatively about how we might use the great outdoors more often and more systematically. During this pandemic, our students need to breathe fresh air, bask in the sunshine, and appreciate everything nature has to offer. This planning group will figure out what resources are needed to make this a reality.

Things are moving fast and changing quickly. We intend to communicate with you often to update you on our plans. Our hope is to stay ahead of your questions. But, if we should fail in that department, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Wishing you sunlight, fresh air, and a beautiful Vermont August,

Elaine