CVU Student's Safe Driving PSA Recognized

CVU student, Will Devereaux, was recognized by the Vermont Highway Safety Alliance for his public service announcement. (PSA) He was awarded the 4th place prize. 

In conjunction with National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, the VHSA hosted its fourth video public service announcement contest. The contest was open to high-school students and designed to encourage young drivers and their friends and peers to avoid distracted driving.

The goal for contestants was to research this important issue and produce a compelling 25-second video to enact change and spread the message to peers and the public that distracted driving is unacceptable and can have serious consequences. The VHSA hopes that videos produced by high-school students offer a relatable perspective for other young drivers. Finalists and winners were selected from the 52 entries submitted. Here's the full list of winners with links to their videos.

Will 's PSA can be seen below. 

 

Spring 2021 Frequently Asked Questions

What is the issue with contact tracing / quarantining?

The main challenge is the exploding number of cases in Chittenden County combined with how three-foot distancing puts so many more unvaccinated students at risk of contracting the virus.

Why might the new 3 feet social distancing guidance result in more close contacts?
While the guidance has changed from six feet to three feet, the manner in which students are quarantined has not. Thus any student who is within three feet of another student for fifteen minutes or more will need to be absent from school and all activities for seven days and a test. Based on the large number of cases in Chittenden County, it is likely that we would be bringing kids back to school only to send them home. Families who have experienced this quarantining describe the disruption for their child and themselves as quite substantial. So far about 1 in every 16 CVSD students has been quarantined!

What is the impact on daily operations?

The issue with increased cases is both the amount of time it takes to process each case as well as the impact it has on the need for remote learning. While the guidance has changed from six feet to three feet, the determination of who is a close contact and will thus need to quarantine has not. Students who are within six feet of an infected student for 15 minutes (cumulative throughout the day) or in the same space as an infected student for 4 1/2 hours (also cumulative throughout the day) are considered close contacts and must quarantine for 14 days or a negative PCR test after 7 days. We've learned over the last month that even with the six feet social distancing guidance, many, many students end up needing to quarantine. These numbers will increase when the distance we allow between them is reduced. The work of determining these close contacts is left to our administrators, district and school nursing staff, the faculty and staff connected to the students - all in conjunction with the Department of Health. We have had several cases recently that took several days to resolve. Wednesdays provide an opportunity to catch up with this work

Is Covid-19 spreading at school?
Our schools are a reflection of our communities. As community spread ticks up in Chittenden County, we’ve seen a corresponding increase in cases coming into our school buildings. And while our mitigation efforts continue to prove effective at stopping the spread once it enters our buildings, we have seen two cases of what the Department of Health deems an outbreak. By definition, this is three or more cases within the school that could not have been contacted outside of school. Our positive cases have been linked to household transmission with the most common pattern being transmission from an adult to a child living in the same household.

If there is in-school transmission, will we be notified?
In an in-school transmission or an outbreak (three or more cases linked together) is confirmed by the Epidemiology Team, the school is required to notify the families and take appropriate steps suggested by the Department of Health. We also notify the entire school community as a regular practice.

Do all close contacts have to quarantine for the same length of time? It seems some individuals are out for fewer days than others.
The timeline for quarantining has been established by the VT Department of Health based on current research and understanding of the incubation period of the virus and how it spreads. In Vermont, we rely on a team of contact tracers who interview the positive person to establish the individual timeline for each COVID case. Based on that individual’s timeline, the school team works with the Dept. of Health to determine what the necessary quarantine, testing, and remote timelines will be.

Though each case is unique, all individuals identified as close contacts are required to quarantine for seven days from the last day of possible exposure to the person who was infectious (known as day zero). At that point, they must take a PCR Covid test and remain in quarantine until negative results are received. These negative results must be shared with the health office before the individual is allowed back in school. Due to the particulars of a case, the exposure is sometimes not known until days after it occurred. In such cases, there may be different amounts of school days missed.

Is the quarantine requirement consistently applied?
Yes, the quarantine requirement is consistently applied as directed by the VT Department of Health.

What is the school doing to prevent transmission at school?
Our schools continue to be diligent with our protective measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. We believe that the following measures are effective in containing transmission at school:

• Mask wearing by all with very few exceptions for individuals for whom mask wearing is contraindicated in the Individualized Education Plan
• Maintaining 3 feet distancing between students and 6 feet distancing between adults
• Washing hands routinely throughout the day
• Availability of hand sanitation stations in all common areas
• Sending symptomatic students home as soon as symptoms present themselves
• Maintenance of student groupings and seating charts to minimize contacts
• Closing the buildings to the public

Why can we use our judgment to determine whether or not we can bring students back, but cannot use our judgment to require those who travel to quarantine?
The social distancing guidance is a recommendation. Schools are asked to consider local conditions and circumstances as well as the social distance criteria. Quarantining requirements are handed down by the VT Department of Health and the Agency of Education. Here is the response we received when we asked about our ability to require families who have traveled out of state to quarantine while they awaited a negative COVID test result:

Can schools decide to require quarantining after travel for students/staff even though Vermont Forward has removed this?

From Secretary French: No they cannot. They are to follow Vermont Forward and state guidance. School districts do not have the authority to arbitrarily deny students access to in-person instruction.

What is the Vermont Forward guidance relative to travel out of state?

Families who travel out of state are required to get a COVID test three days after return to Vermont. Students may return to school while they are awaiting their test results. If a student is symptomatic, they should self-quarantine.

What is the guidance relative to travel out of the country?

Families who travel out of the country are required to quarantine for fourteen days or seven days with a negative test result.

What activities occur on Wednesday remote days?

• Synchronous Learning
• Asynchronous Learning
• Office hours with students
• Parent meetings
• EST and 504 meetings
• Assessments
• Teacher Planning
• Cross-disciplinary, team teacher planning
• Staff professional learning
• Staff meetings
• Reopening/ Recovery/ Summer Planning

Why isn’t CVU going to four days per week instruction?
From Principal Bunting:

Right now, the main concern is losing more instructional days than we would gain if we made a full return. While the CDC guidance on social distancing has changed from six feet to three feet, the manner in which students are quarantined has not. Thus any student who is within six feet of another student for fifteen minutes or more will need to be absent from school and all activities for seven days and a test. One positive case would result in a minimum of twenty-one other students missing up to five days of instruction. Based on the increase of cases in Chittenden County, it is likely that we would be bringing kids back to school only to send them home. Families who have experienced this quarantining describe the disruption for their child and themselves as quite substantial. So far about one in every sixteen CVSD students has been quarantined!

Is CVU doing anything to add in-person time for high school students?
CVU is looking for ways in which to increase in-person time as the school year progresses. Starting after April break they will allow any student who wishes to come in for academic support to do so. Additionally, they will have ninth graders in for three of the six remaining Wednesdays for the remainder of the year. They are planning a traditional senior week to get seniors back in school before the close of the year. Finally, CVU will offer many free summer opportunities to all students; those opportunities will include courses, camps, and social experiences.

What is the plan/ intention for the fall?
We are planning a full reopening in as near-normal as possible. We imagine that we will still be wearing masks, but expect that the school schedule, routines, and practices will be back to pre-COVID operations. We are planning for, and looking forward to this eventuality.

CVSD Update October 16, 2020

Dear Friends and Families,

We have just completed our first experience with a positive COVID case in our schools While we would have wished not to have any cases - ever - I am so proud to let you know how smoothly it all went. Every part of our plan went as imagined. Kudos to the Williston administration for having their systems in place and being able to provide all of the information being requested by the Vermont Department of Health team. This went a long way towards narrowing the scope of the impact. I’d also like to give a shout-out to the CVSD Reopening Team that mobilized at a moment’s notice on a Sunday afternoon. It feels very reassuring to be part of a team that works well together, and more importantly, is committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure the best possible results for our students, their families, and our faculty and staff. For those of you who read the Williston Observer, I want to point out that the letter we sent to you on Sunday night was written by us. A sub-group of the team spent over an hour considering every line in that letter. We knew how important this first communication was and we wanted to make sure we got it as exactly right as possible. If others used portions of our letter to express the same sentiment, we are fine with that, but we want you all to know how seriously we took the messaging of this information. For those of you who don’t receive the Williston Observer - there was a sentence at the end of a very good report that indicated our letter may have been a form letter that we downloaded. It was not.

We are continuing the process of bringing more students back for in-person instruction. Our kindergarten students have been in for two weeks and everyone involved is thrilled to have them back. I heard from every single K-4 principal about the energy and excitement their presence generated. It has gone very smoothly. On Monday the 19th we will welcome our grades 1 and 2 students for four days of in-person instruction. We’ve been planning for this transition for several weeks and are confident that it will also go very smoothly, I can’t underscore enough how vigilant our teachers and administrators have been around making sure that we are able to follow all of the health and safety guidance. We have full confidence in the practices we have put in place. The following week, if all goes as well as we anticipate, we will be bringing in our grades 3 and 4 students. Again, our plan could be adjusted based on our experiences, our community context, and the greater Vermont context. We will always consider the health and safety of our students first.

Please note the republishing of our School Year Calendar. I say republishing because there will be no additional changes to the calendar that was distributed last spring. In the recent legislative session, the legislature set the number of student days required to 170. Our calendar, as adopted last spring, has 172 student days for our K-8 students and 173 student days for our high school students.

I wish you all good health and a lovely fall weekend!

Elaine Pinckney

CVSD Superintendent

The full newsletter, with additional news, announcements, resources, and reminders can be found at this link. 

March 25, 2020

March 25, 2020

Dear CVSD Community,

As you may have heard, last night Governor Scott issued Addendum 6 to his Executive Order which puts in place a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order and directs all non-essential businesses and non-profits to cease in-person operations. We hope that this communication answers questions you may have about what that means for our schools and services.

Food

There will be no disruption in our ability to serve meals to any who need them. If you are having trouble accessing meals at the pickup locations or times, please reach out to your food service director for options. See the District News on the front of our website for contact information and links to the order forms. https://www.cvsdvt.org/

Maintenance of Learning

Recent guidance from the Agency of Education indicates that the “maintenance of learning” phase has been extended through the week of April 13, 2020. This phase is designed to be supplemental, prevent learning loss, and is optional for students. Districts have been advised to begin planning for an extended period of school closure and to continue developing “continuity of learning” plans that will be executed once the state has provided a precise date for that transition.

Notification of Future COVID19 Cases in our Community

As COVID-19 continues to spread, we will have some in our community both testing positive and exhibiting symptoms without a confirmed test. The Vermont Department of Health is no longer reaching out to close contacts of those who test positive (or exhibit symptoms) in most cases, so the responsibility is up to each individual to take action to reduce the spread. According to the Dept. of Health, if you learn of someone who is symptomatic and you are concerned that you were in close contact with that person, the decision is up to you and your physician as to whether or not to self-quarantine. If you are concerned about your health, please call your doctor immediately. Further information on testing can be found at the Vermont Department of Health website here.

As word spreads about individuals who have tested positive, please keep in mind the impact on the individual. As an educational institution bound by HIPPA, we are not in a position to notify our communities about who has tested positive, as this would violate the rights of the individual.

CVSDStrong

Thank you to those who have contributed examples of how we’re all staying strong during this time apart. Please continue to share using this link. https://bit.ly/CVSDStrong

Here’s the latest collection of how our community is #CVSDStrong. https://youtu.be/p6rBykYJDy0

We wish all of our families well during this time!

The Champlain Valley School District Administration

#CVSDStrong

We are going back to school this week, though in a very different manner. We thank those that have already contributed stories and photos from the past week that illustrate positive ways you and your children are making the best of our current situation. 

We invite everyone to share their #CVSDStrong anecdotes and photos at this link:

https://bit.ly/CVSDStrong

March 20, 2020 Update

March 20, 2020

Dear CVSD Community,

Despite the ongoing news about the coronavirus and our imposed distance from one another, know that we are working hard to support you and your children during this trying time. As we stated yesterday, most communications will come from schools starting next week. You likely already heard from your schools today, and if not, you will.

Food

In this time of school closure, we want to assure the community that all students who need free meals are receiving them. In addition, any family who has had a change in its financial situation and requires free student meals going forward is immediately eligible. No one will be turned away from CVSD food service.

We want to thank and acknowledge the heroes in our schools who can’t work remotely, but must come into the building to prepare and deliver meals for vulnerable students, and keep the children of emergency workers safe so their parents can continue to work. As Mr. Rogers says, “look for the helpers”... and thank them!

Childcare

CVSD is working directly with those families who are eligible to receive childcare under the Governor’s “Childcare for Essential Personnel” order. As a reminder, families are eligible for childcare for their enrolled student(s) if both parents fall into one of the Essential Personnel Categories identified by the state.

For those families of Essential Personnel seeking childcare for infants, toddlers, and other non-enrolled children, the State of Vermont is working to connect families with available options. See the following information from Let’s Grow Kids Vermont:

Help Finding Child Care for Essential Persons 

Essential workers who need help finding child care should visit: https://webportalapp.com/webform/essentialworkers. Families can also call 2-1-1 ext. 6, or call 1-877-705-9008 to speak to a child care referral specialist.

Eligible families can complete the form and the State, through the Agency of Education for school-aged children through grade 8 or through DCF, Child Development Division for younger children will work to connect essential workers who need child care with options for their children.

Maintenance of Learning

Faculty and staff members across the district have been working incredibly hard at designing supplemental learning opportunities. Maintenance of Learning officially begins on Monday, March 23rd.

Online Video Conferences

Many of our educators may use a video conferencing tool from Google called Hangouts/Meet to connect with students. This is intended to maintain relationships and check-in. We have created a document on which you will find initial thoughts about what families should consider and expect during those online meetings. https://bit.ly/CVSDOnlineMeetings Teachers will be reaching out to families, especially those in our PreK-8 schools, with more information.

#CVSDStrong

And finally, we would like to collect examples of how we’re all staying strong and celebrating the positive things during this unusual and challenging time. If you have a short anecdote or photo, please share it using this form. https://bit.ly/CVSDStrong

Thank you again for all YOU are doing to support your children and one another,

The Champlain Valley School District Administration

March 19, 2020 Update

March 19, 2020

We hope this finds you well and adjusting to having students at home. We do know that administrators, faculty, and staff all miss the students. They have been working hard to develop systems and structures to maintain connections and relationships with the students and their families. Some have been in school buildings while others are collaborating remotely. We are transitioning to the new normal.

As we adapt to maintaining learning from a distance, we want to assure the community that you will still receive communications. Starting next week, these will likely come from schools and teachers rather than from the district.

Today’s district communication includes information on:

• Digital Learning and Devices
• Maintaining Learning
• School Meals for all students
• Childcare for Essential worker

Digital Learning and Devices

Families in our PreK-8 schools will receive communications from their school today about picking up Chromebooks and other materials starting tomorrow. We have created a flyer with information about taking the devices home and associated care and responsibilities. A hard copy of this will be distributed with the device and charging cord.

We have also updated our district Digital Learning site (https://bit.ly/CVSDcovidtips) with a special page devoted to some tips and best practices for this time while students are home. You will be getting more specific information from your schools and teachers in the coming days with vital information and resources.

Maintaining Learning

This morning, faculty and staff members began the coordinated work of developing maintenance of learning plans for all students, with a focus on supplemental enrichment, per the governor’s guidance. Our first focus is on maintaining relationships and connections with students and their families.

While educators are planning and collaborating around this, please do not expect details about what maintenance of learning will look like until early next week. We realize that many of you are looking for ideas about what to do with your children at home. Please trust that your schools and teachers will be in touch with you with more information.

Food Service

Starting Monday, March 23rd, the CVSD Food Service Team is opening up breakfast/lunch service to all CVSD students. While our students are learning at home we want to be able to provide nutritious meals if they are needed. Students eligible for school meal benefits will receive free meals. Other accounts will be charged as usual for meals.

Pick-up service will be on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the following locations and times. Please click on the link for the most convenient location (regardless of which school your student attends) and fill out your order for the week. CVU students may pick up at any of these locations.

Charlotte Central School: 9:30 - 10:30 AM at the West Entrance (https://bit.ly/CharStGeorge)

Shelburne Community School: 9:00- 10:30 AM at the gym entrance (parking lot) (https://bit.ly/ShelburneMeals)

Hinesburg Community School 9:00 - 10:30 AM at main entrance front of the building (https://bit.ly/HinesburgMeals)

Williston Central School 9:00 - 10:30 AM at the visitor parking (front of building, band room entrance) (https://bit.ly/WillistonMeals)

St. George Schoolhouse 9:30 - 10:30 AM (https://bit.ly/CharStGeorge)

Orders will include both breakfast and lunch. This week the lunch entree is your choice of turkey, ham, sunbutter and jelly, or veggie sandwich. Each meal includes fresh vegetables, fruit or juice, a snack and choice of milk. Sandwiches can be made gluten-free.

If you have trouble with the form or need any additional assistance in accessing meals, please contact your school or local foodservice director directly. We are here to help!

Childcare Services for Children of Essential Persons

At the order of Governor Phil Scott, CVSD will be providing childcare services for the students currently enrolled in our school system whose parents are considered absolutely critical to the state’s response to COVID-19 and continued public health and safety. These “essential persons” include many health care professionals, emergency services providers, public health employees, and the people needed to provide childcare for these persons. A full listing of those eligible can be found in the Governor’s directive. (https://bit.ly/GovernorDirective2)

Families who responded in the Family Survey sent out to the CVSD community on March 16 and 17 will receive more information later this week. If you believe you qualify and require this service, please reach out to us immediately by sending an email to cvsdinformation@cvsdvt.org.

Thank you again for reading all the way through, for your incredible support, and for taking care of one another in a multitude of ways.

The Champlain Valley School District Administration

March 18, 2020 Update

March 18, 2020

Dear CVSD Community,

The district and building leadership teams met for a full day today. The purpose of the day was to develop district-wide expectations for the maintenance of learning. This work was greatly informed by this new guidance issued by the governor:

• Districts may supply parents and students with supplemental enrichment materials to prevent learning loss and to support parents in keeping students engaged.
• Any such materials must be made accessible for students with disabilities
• These enrichment materials should remain optional for parents to use.
• The district should not assess students or input grades based on the optional materials.

We will now use the next two days to work with our faculty and staff to develop plans for that supplemental enrichment. Our first focus is on maintaining relationships and connections with students and their families.

While educators are planning and collaborating around this, please do not expect details about what maintenance of learning will look like until early next week. We realize that many of you are looking for ideas about what to do with your children at home. Please trust that your schools and teachers will be in touch with you with more information.

Student Devices

• Families with students in grades 3-8 may go to their school buildings to pick up their students’ devices starting on Friday. Here’s the process for that:
• Each of your schools will communicate with you about the time frame for coming to schools to pick up devices.
• Student devices will be in carts, organized by classroom/homeroom teacher.
• Staff will be on hand to help distribute each student’s device, along with a charging cable, and a document with information about responsible use and what to do if a device gets damaged.

Food Service

CVSD Foodservice is preparing breakfast and lunch “grab and go” meals for students whose families have indicated on the parent survey that “yes” they need food. For Thursday and Friday, March 19th and 20th, pick up will be at the places and times below. Please remain in your car and someone will come to you. Charlotte families can pick up at any school.

CVU 9:00 - 10:30 AM at the back entrance (bus circle)

Shelburne 9:00 - 10:30 AM at the gym entrance (parking lot)

Hinesburg 9:00 - 10:30 AM at main entrance front of the building

Williston 9:00 - 10:30 AM at the visitor parking (front of building, band room entrance)

In tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon’s communication families will find a link to our new online ordering form for breakfast and lunch for all students who have a school lunch account (with contact information if you are not able to access the form). On Monday, we will also be adding a drop off location at the Red School House in St. George, and opportunities for food delivery for those unable to get to a dropoff location.

We want to remind families that if your financial situation changes you may qualify for free school nutrition service meals. The application form can be found on the CVSD website or ask your local food service director. Also, many of our communities have a local food shelf willing to help. If you need to access food from the CVU food shelf contact cvufoodshelf@cvsdvt.org.

Thank you for your continued support of CVSD educators and support staff who are all working very hard.

The Champlain Valley School District Administration

March 17, 2020 Update

March 17, 2020

Dear CVSD Community,

At this moment, community is everything. With schools closing, events and gatherings being canceled, and daily interactions dramatically changing, maintaining a sense of who we are as a community in our schools and district is more important than ever.

With the very difficult announcement to move to remote education amid the evolving situation with novel coronavirus, we are still CVSD. Everything that defines and unites us as a community is enduring. And while the feeling of watching our community disband at this point in the year is truly indescribable, it matters deeply to us that we continue to remain connected with one another and with our amazing institutions.

Yesterday, we shared a confidential, online survey that we asked families to complete and submit. If you have not yet done so, please complete it by 8:00 this evening. If you know of anyone who does not have access to complete the survey, please reach out to them and offer assistance. http://bit.ly/CVSDRemoteLearning

Upcoming communications will provide more information about:

• Device pick-up at our preK-8 buildings: this is likely to begin on Friday. We’ll share more information tomorrow.
• Expectations for families and students regarding what learning will look like starting on Monday.
• Childcare details for medical professionals or emergency services workers
• Food Service: Thursday, March 19th and Friday, March 20th bagged meals will be available for those who have signed up on the school survey at all schools except Charlotte (Charlotte families will go to Shelburne Community School for pick up).

We’ve made it this far and together we’re going to get through this. We will do so together as a strong, compassionate and resilient community.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding,

The Champlain Valley School District Administration

March 16, 2020 Update

March 16, 2020

Dear CVSD Community,

We will be sharing regular communications with you as this week unfolds. Recognize that principals, teachers, and District administration have been working to do our very best with this intense situation. Right now, we need our teachers and principals focusing on our students and their well-being over the next few weeks. The CVSD community has been nothing but supportive. This support drives our team forward. Thank you.

We will share information as often as we can. Today, we hope to gather some information from you and provide answers to immediate questions.

Survey for families

We are sharing a confidential, online survey that we ask families to complete and submit as soon as possible.

http://bit.ly/CVSDRemoteLearning

We appreciate the time it takes for you to fill it out. The information will help us with further planning.

Devices and materials going home

CVU students all have their devices already.

Students in the preK-8 schools:

• Chromebooks will be ready and available for grades 3-8 for pick up starting on Friday morning. We will have more details about that in the coming days.
• Other materials may also be picked up at this time.

Maintenance of Learning

The leadership team will be meeting on Wednesday.

Teachers will continue to be working on this during staff meetings, during early-release Tuesday, and on Thursday and Friday. They will be in communication with families as soon as they possibly can. Please give them the time to do the necessary collaborative planning that a change like this warrants.

The ease-in to distance learning will begin next Monday.

There will be continued communication about this from the district, schools, and teachers.

Students on IEPs and 504s:

Please see this communication if your child is supported by an Individual Education Plan or 504.

Food

CVSD is committed to providing good nutritious breakfasts and lunches to our students who qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch during this school closure. Starting on Thursday, March 19th, we will be preparing bagged meals for distribution out of our local schools.

As we move forward, we will consider additional pick-up locations as well as possibly develop a meal drop-off system to increase convenience. We will communicate any updates as they become available.

As a reminder, should your family face economic hardship as a result of COVID-19 you may submit a new free and reduced meal application. Families may apply for school meals at any point in the school year based on their most current income. Applications can be found on the CVSD website at this link.

We appreciate all of the offers to support others with food needs. At this time, the district feels that we can sufficiently meet those needs. Please consider supporting your local food shelves during this challenging time for families. There is a food shelf at CVU that is accepting donations as well.

Information about the Shelburne Community School closing today and tomorrow:

The details we can share are the following:

• The person is not a student or a staff member
• The person has worked with students predominantly outside of our building
• The DOH has done a full case investigation and reached out directly to parties they believe to be directly impacted

We know that this does not satisfy all of your questions, concerns, or worries, but it represents an honest effort to keep you as informed as possible without usurping the rights of the person who has tested positive.

Again, the CVSD community has been nothing but supportive. This support drives our team forward.

Thank you,

The Champlain Valley School District Administration

SCS Closed March 16 and 17

March 15, 2020

Dear Champlain Valley School District Families:

This evening, we were notified that a community member in Shelburne with connections to the school has tested positive for COVID19. At the direction of the Department of Health and the Agency of Education, we will be closing the Shelburne Community School on Monday, March 16th and Tuesday, March 17th. Except for custodial personnel, faculty and staff at Shelburne will not be at school.

We are aware that this news is unsettling. The Department of Health does not recommend closure of any other Champlain Valley School District schools, and therefore CVSD will move ahead with the plans outlined in the message shared earlier today. There will be more communications in the coming days.

We will keep you informed via email and Connect 5 messages.

~ The CVSD Administration

Schools Closing as of March 18, 2020

March 15, 2020

Dear CVSD Community,

First and foremost, we want to thank you for your patience and understanding surrounding COVID19 and its implications for our school community. We understand that this time is fraught with concerns, all of which are real and valid. As we navigate this ever-changing landscape, know that we are doing our best to communicate what we know, when we know it.

As you may be aware, Governor Scott issued a statement today (Sunday, March 15th) with the following statement:

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Phil Scott has announced a Continuity of Education Plan for the orderly dismissal of all schools, and cancellation of all school related activities, no later than Wednesday, March 18. This directive, which will be distributed to schools later today, will last through April 6 -- but may very well be extended for a longer period.

Schools in the Champlain Valley School District will be in session for students on Monday and Tuesday. This will be an opportunity for students and staff to gather materials to have at home for what may be a prolonged school closure and can provide families with some time to make arrangements for their children to be home.

On Wednesday, March 18th, the CVSD Leadership Team will convene to develop a framework to address a prolonged school closure. There will be no faculty and only essential staff in the building at this time. Leadership will use this time to develop preliminary plans to address many of the things the Governor shared in his statement, as well as issues that are important for our own school community. 

These issues include, but are not limited to:

• Food and special needs services for children;
• Collaborating with the state to provide childcare options for healthcare workers and others essential to the response; and
• Systems for ensuring maintenance of education during the initial dismissal; and a continuing education plan if schools are dismissed for an extended period.
• Thursday & Friday, March 19th and 20th, will be work days for all faculty and staff. We will share additional information about what those work days will look like directly with faculty and staff, including relevant questions about social distancing.

If you had scheduled a parent-teacher conference for any day this week, those will not be held in the buildings, Instead, teachers may reach out to see if it’s feasible to schedule something online.

Faculty, staff, and families should continue to work with their physicians to make their own decisions regarding their ability to be at school on Monday and Tuesday. Per Governor Scott’s Friday address, families who choose to keep their children home on Monday and Tuesday will not be penalized for those absences. Faculty and staff who need to be quarantined for individual medical concerns can use sick time in the short term, with a longer-term answer to be communicated after Wednesday.

We will share additional details with you as soon as we have them.

Thank you again,

The Champlain Valley School District Administration

March 13, 2020 Update

March 13, 2020 Update

We have received communications from some members of our community regarding school closure. We know the feedback is being provided out of care and concern for our children and community. Although we can’t reply to each individual communication, we do take the input seriously.

The paragraph below is a statement collectively crafted by the Champlain Valley Superintendents Association:

This morning, superintendents from Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle County participated in a meeting with Dr. Mark Levine, the Commissioner of Health from the Vermont Department of Health, and Vermont’s Education Secretary, Dan French. We learned that Governor Scott will be holding an important press conference at 5:30 pm today that should provide new and specific information for all Vermonters to follow. We anticipate that the guidance will include broad-based health recommendations, information on potential school closure and/or dismissal, the role of schools in mitigating COVID-19, updated travel recommendations, and what individuals can do to keep safe including social distancing. Once the Governor has provided direction, district leadership will determine the next steps for their schools and will be back in touch with families and staff as quickly as they can.

We are aware that there are many questions regarding the implications of any decision around school closure. Please know that the district is working diligently to address these issues and will be communicating additional information as we know it.

Extracurriculars: With the exception of the CVU theater performance tonight, all extra-curricular activities in the district are canceled until further notice.

Thank you for your continued understanding and patience during this challenging time.

The Champlain Valley School District Administration

March 12, 2020 Update

March 12, 2020

Dear CVSD Community,

Please know that we are meeting regularly to address and discuss many topics related to COVID-19. We will do our best to keep people informed often, almost daily. Please check the front of the district’s website for all communications that have been shared as well as additional resources. We’ve received a number of questions and suggestions about COVID-19 concerns. We are diligently reviewing them all; however, we cannot respond personally to each inquiry. Understand that we are consulting regularly with our state agencies, local education colleagues, and statewide organizations in order to inform our decision making.

We are writing to provide you with information about the proactive steps being taken by CVSD to do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate its impact throughout our community. With the good news about the health of our Williston colleague, we can continue to confirm that at this time there are no known cases of COVID-19 in CVSD. This note will address the specific steps being taken today in our schools and the steps that may be taken should more extreme measures become necessary.

As of today, CVSD is following the current advice of the Vermont Department of Health and the Agency of Education and keeping all schools open while implementing several enhanced practices.

Enhanced cleaning (buildings and buses):

The custodial staff is now thoroughly trained and equipped to implement enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures. After a thorough cleaning, surfaces are being disinfected using a broad-spectrum antibacterial, virucide, and fungicide which is effective against Norovirus and approved for use in schools and hospitals. Walls, floors, doors and door frames, sinks, drinking fountains, windows, countertops, furniture; any surface that may be touched will be disinfected. Classroom contents are being cleaned and disinfected including keyboards and tablets. All spaces including hallways, gyms, cafeterias, and bathrooms are included. In addition, we are implementing a daily disinfecting protocol on all school buses. We no longer will be closing schools for deep cleaning as this is now our ongoing routine.

Enhanced health practices:

We are reinforcing the importance of following CDC recommendations for practicing common disease prevention measures as the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The first priority is to practice good hand-washing hygiene. Our staff has been encouraged to have students wash their hands when arriving at school, when returning to the classroom from any activity, before and after lunch and snack. Other CDC recommendations include: avoid touching your face with unwashed hands and staying at home when sick. We also encourage practicing the small habits to bolster overall health such as sleep, exercise, and talking with friends.

School Events:

The Vermont Principals Association has today suspended all student events. This includes things like basketball tournaments, Scripps Spelling Bee, and more. The district is attempting to remain in alignment with the VPA and other neighboring organizations that are making decisions about postponement, but it is challenging to do so because of how frequently things are changing. Information about school-specific events, such as drama productions and school productions, will be communicated directly from the school. In some cases, events may go forward with limited attendance, and in other cases events may be canceled based on each school’s unique circumstances. If formal guidance is issued that impacts these decisions, we will communicate that as soon as we can.

Travel and Field Trips:

Student and school-related staff travel out of state have been suspended through the end of April. Decisions about in-state travel are being made locally, with weight being given to the value of the experience to students versus the risk, particularly the number of people to which the students will be exposed and the care being given by the site to following CDC guidelines. Families should exercise their own judgment about field trips and keep students home if that is in their best interest.

Distance Learning and Special Circumstances:

Keeping schools open while practicing enhanced protocols is the level of response that is currently recommended by the Agency of Education and the Department of Health. While we do not anticipate school closure, please know that we are preparing plans for distance learning, including a contingency plan for students who may have additional needs in the event of a school closure or dismissal. This includes planning to support our students who are food insecure and students who have other special educational needs should we close schools to students (referred to as “school dismissal” by the AOE/DOH). This unprecedented decision for CVSD will cause real difficulty for many of our families, is likely to affect student learning, and will only be made with the guidance of the AOE and DOH.

We continue to understand that families are in different circumstances around this topic and respect personal decisions that must be made.

Please explore these resources for managing anxiety around COVID:

• NASP COVID19 Guidance.
• How to talk to kids about the Coronavirus (NY Times)
• What Kids Want to Know About Coronavirus (NPR Comic format)
• How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus (Seattle Times)
• Brainpop video about Coronavirus
• 5 Ways to Help Children with Coronavirus Anxiety - Little Flower Yoga

Above all, we recognize that this is a challenging time for our community. We believe we are making the best decisions we can with the information we have at the moment, and we are responding as quickly as we can to new and ever-changing guidance.

The Champlain Valley School District Administration

March 11, 2020 Update

March 11, 2020 Update

We are writing to provide you another update around COVID-19 concerns in CVSD.

As you know, both Williston schools were open today after a deep cleaning.

In addition, we are sharing information with you about the health of our Williston colleague. The employee is understanding of the concerns raised throughout this situation, and as a result, is voluntarily sharing some details with our district. Please understand that the district can only share this information because of the employee’s specific consent. Should similar situations occur in the future, the district would not be able to share the same type of information without the express permission of the employee.

Over February break, the employee stayed at a hotel where a large corporate meeting was being held. Upon their return, the staff member became ill with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, only then becoming aware that more than 70 cases of confirmed COVID-19 would be tied to the meeting at that hotel. After consulting with their physician and testing negative for the flu, the employee followed the direction of their physician and contacted the Vermont Department of Health as soon as they could. Our employee was subsequently tested for the COVID-19 virus. We were notified today that the test was negative.

It is important to note that as of this time there are no known cases of COVID-19 in CVSD.

We continue to be grateful to the employee for their appropriate and conscientious response to the situation, and to the school community for their patience during this process.


~ The Champlain Valley School District Administration

March 9, 2020 Update

March 9, 2020

Thank you for your patience and consideration as we work through many details and strive to get answers for all members of our communities. We have received many inquiries after our message went out this morning about closing the Williston Schools. We will do our best to answer the most common questions below. 

Will the Williston Schools be open tomorrow, March 10th?

The CVSD Leadership team has had the opportunity to consult with both the Agency of Education (AOE) and Vermont Department of Health (DOH), as well as to discuss the relevant details of our specific situation. After much consideration, we have made the decision to close the Williston Schools for one additional day; therefore, the Williston Schools will be closed on Tuesday, March 10th. Both schools will reopen on Wednesday, March 11th.

The original decision to close today (Monday) was based on the information available to the administration Sunday evening, without the benefit of guidance from the AOE and DOH. In an abundance of caution, we opted to close. This gives us time to fully clean our schools (see below for details about deep cleaning). While we are doing everything we can to keep our school community safe, it is also true that it is important for our schools to be open and available to students and families. Based on the guidance from the AOE and DOH, it is clear to us that the best decision is to reopen the Williston schools on Wednesday, March 11th. This allows our custodial team time to complete the deep cleaning process and also allows families and staff to feel more confident that the building is ready for learning. We trust that families and staff will make individual decisions as necessary.

The Agency of Education is in the process of developing additional protocols for situations related to the health and wellness of school staff and students. The District will continue to follow their guidance as it is shared.

Can you inform us about who the staff member was?

We need to respect the privacy of the staff member and cannot and will not be releasing that person’s name or other identifiers. 

Can you provide any details about how much interaction they may have had with other staff and students?

At this point, the district is awaiting guidance from the Department of Health about notification. We have been made aware that if notification is required, it would come directly from the Department of Health, as this is a public health issue. The District does not have the authority to release information about staff and students. We would advise that if you or your child becomes symptomatic, or if you have health-related questions, you should contact your physician or the Department of Health.

Is the staff member getting tested or will they be tested for COVID-19?

The staff person has contacted the Department of Health and is abiding by their recommendations regarding testing procedures. If the person tests positive, the Department of Health would manage any and all notifications.

Will the families of children who were in direct contact be notified?

Any notification would come from the Department of Health. We would advise that if you or your child becomes symptomatic, or if you have health-related questions you should contact your physician or the Department of Health.

Why were both of the Williston schools closed? What about siblings that attend CVU?

Closing both of the Williston schools is largely due to the fact that there are staff members that work in both buildings and our school buses are used for students in both buildings. CVU students do not ride the same buses nor do they have the same teachers. 

How long are the schools going to be closed? Families need this information for childcare and work purposes.

At this point, the Williston Schools are closed on Tuesday, March 10 in addition to today. It is our intention that schools will open as usual on Wednesday, March 11th. We will keep people informed as often as we can.

What type of disinfecting is happening at Allen Brook?

The custodial staff at both Allen Brook and Williston Central are cleaning and disinfecting all spaces from top to bottom. The custodial staff has received training in the proper use of disinfectants and are wearing appropriate Personal Protection Equipment. After a thorough cleaning, surfaces we will be disinfected using a broad spectrum anti-bacterial, virucide, and fungicide which is effective against Norovirus and approved for use in schools and hospitals. Walls, floors, doors and door frames, sinks, drinking fountains, windows, countertops, furniture; any surface that may be touched will be disinfected. All classroom contents are being cleaned and disinfected including keyboards and tablets. All spaces including hallways, gyms, cafeterias, and bathrooms are included. In addition, all school buses are being cleaned and disinfected. 

Will Williston schools need to make up these two days?

State law requires that schools be in session for a minimum of 175 days. The CVSD School Board, with guidance from the AOE, will make decisions about the school calendar at a later date.

If we are canceling school because there was a potential threat of coronavirus will we be canceling if it spreads to others in our community? Is there an existing plan for online instruction if needed?

The original decision to close today (Monday) was based on the information available to the administration Sunday evening, without the benefit of guidance from the AOE and DOH. Today, we have had the opportunity to consult with the two lead agencies. The information gathered from those consultations, in addition to fully considering the information we have today has led us to the decision that it is in the best interest of students and families to reopen on Wednesday. Moving forward, we will continue to abide by protocols established by the AOE and DOH.

We remind everyone that there are proactive public health measures we can all use. We have shared information about handwashing and other recommendations from the CDC on the COVID-19 headline on the District’s website. www.cvsdvt.org

Thank you, 

The Champlain Valley School District Administration

Williston Schools Closed March 9, 2020

March 9, 2020

Dear Champlain Valley School District Families:

The situation regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve around the world. In the past week, we have heard from families who are seeking guidance on precautions and we have heard from those who are expressing concerns. We all understand that we have a social responsibility to each other in situations like this as we are one community. Here in our district, we take this responsibility seriously.

To that point, a staff member in our Williston school system returned to Vermont after staying at a hotel in another state at the end of the February break. Since then, it has been determined that multiple positive COVID-19 cases were confirmed with guests who stayed at the same hotel. Under the advice of the staff member’s doctor, the staff member has self-quarantined at home after sharing that they had some cold symptoms. That staff member is following CDC protocol and has contacted the Vermont Department of Health. At this time, there is no confirmation that the staff member's symptoms are connected to the coronavirus outbreak.

As we await more information, it is out of an abundance of caution that we have decided that both of the Williston Schools will be closed on Monday, March 9. We will fully and completely disinfect as a preventive measure and will wait for further direction from the Vermont Department of Health. Williston families and guardians have already been informed and we wanted the CVSD community to be aware as well.

In these unusual circumstances as the national picture continues to evolve and with the strong presence of social media, we know it is easy to begin speculating and questioning. We ask for your patience and respect for our staff member, their family, and our school communities.

If you have any questions, please email cvsdinformation@cvsdvt.org and we will try to answer as quickly as possible.

We will keep you informed via email and Connect 5 messages.

The CVSD Administration

March 6, 2020 Update

March 6, 2020

Dear CVSD Families:

With the increased intensity of news reports and social media posts regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19), comes speculation about the impact this virus may eventually have on school communities. It is important for you to know the most accurate and timely information about this health concern.

We continue to work at the district level to ensure that we are planning appropriate precautionary steps while we work through this possible health and safety challenge. We are working closely with the Vermont Department of Health. Over the past several days, we have spent hours researching and in conversation with health authorities and the Agency of Education learning how they can help school districts in Vermont prepare for any possible health emergencies.

The safety of our students and staff is our priority. Please be assured that we are working with individual families who seek guidance and those who express concerns. What we are able to provide is the latest information that comes from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the State Department, the World Health Organization and the Vermont Department of Health. This is a very fluid situation and the sites are updated regularly. We recommend you bookmark those sites so you can check them as you feel the need.

We have open and effective lines of communication with our public health officials and the Vermont Agency of Education and will alert students, staff, and parents if we receive direction related to COVID-19. Any potential school closing (and reopening) due to illness will be guided by public health officials. While education is important, the health and wellbeing of our students and staff are far more significant.

As a reminder, please use these preventative hygiene practices:

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, please stay home and avoid contact with others.

According to public health officials, the way COVID-19 is spread is very similar to the flu and common colds. For this reason, we are encouraging our students and staff to actively wash their hands and take all of the same precautions they would normally take to avoid these illnesses. Please encourage your children to do the same at home as they build healthy habits.

We will continue to monitor the situation and update you as we have more information. You can find additional links and information on the District page of our website www.cvsdvt.org. If you have any questions, please email cvsdinformation@cvsdvt.org and we will try to answer as quickly as possible.

Thank you, 

The Champlain Valley School District Administration

March 1, 2020 Welcome Back

March 1, 2020

Dear CVSD Community:

Welcome back from what we hope was a restful and enjoyable break! Typically, Sundays before the return to school after a vacation provide mixed feelings for students, families, and educators alike; no matter how excited we may be, there is a normal level of anxiousness as we head back to work. For some, those feelings of nervousness are heightened after the recent outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent media attention that follows.

We write to let you know that CVSD is working with the Agency of Education and Department of Health to ensure we are appropriately informed and prepared if COVID-19 cases are reported. As of February 28, there were no cases of people with COVID-19 in Vermont; in addition, as of today, there have been no cases reported in CVSD. As was shared with us in a recent letter by Secretary Dan French, it is important to note that at this point, Vermont residents are much more likely to become sick with a cold or the flu than to be exposed to COVID-19. Many of the precautions that help prevent other respiratory diseases, like colds and the flu, can also help keep an illness like COVID-19 from spreading:

• Frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeve or a tissue. Throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

While the above is comforting in the short term, please know that we would rather be over-prepared than under and will share the information we learn going forward. For those who would like to learn more, please see the links below:


Vermont Department of Health Resource

What you need to know-COVID-19

COVID-19 Travel Resource


Thank You,


The Champlain Valley School District Administration

Summer Work on Buildings and Grounds

The devoted and talented CVSD maintenance and facilities crews have been hard at work over the summer. Here's an update on some of the work that was done. We thank them for their hard work and commitment to ensuring that our buildings and grounds are safe and welcoming for students and families. Some schools were able to supply us with more detailed updates than others, but rest assured with the knowledge that there has been a tremendous amount of great work done in all CVSD locations!


Charlotte:

Chris and the entire crew have been working tirelessly to prepare our school for our big opening only days away. This summer they have really outdone themselves:

• 7/8 Learning Center- Updo!
• New ceiling tiles have been put into several classrooms.
• We replaced the water line to the building then a couple of weeks later the well pump died. So we have a new main water system at this point. The water has been tested and all was good.
• The band room had a makeover, including new paint and now has some character. It also got a new floor. 
• There is a new ADA ramp and stairs at the east entrance (MPR Hall) This will be a big improvement.
• The Quonset hut is torn down! There will be a small hole there for this school year. We are planning now for a new garage and additional parking. This will be for next year's budget.
• We are painting a few classrooms on the second floor now and hope to get as many done as we can. We apologize for those rooms we didn't get to. We will get to them next summer.
• We removed another folding wall and put in a permanent wall in the primary hall as well as new ceiling tile in the 2 rooms.
• There is one more thing that people will notice in several locations (gyms, cafeteria, and on the outside of the building), there are BLUE STROBE LIGHTS. These are meant to notify people in areas where it is loud, that there is an emergency. This was part of the safety grant money we received last year.
• Starting the week of the 12th the front sidewalk will be removed and replaced for safety. If you come in to CCS during that time, you may need to seek an alternate route.

Hinesburg:

Thanks to Tim and his crew, the building is again looking incredible! There are shiny floors, new paint, clean windows, and many other improvements big and small. They deserve a huge thank you for their outstanding job getting our school ready to welcome back the kids. When you do come in, be sure to have a look at our re-sanded gym floor, our new scoreboard, and thanks to our makerspace group, a much improved makerspace next to the library.

In addition, we installed an additional set of doors in our front entryway that will require visitors to be buzzed into an entry holding area, and then buzzed in a second time by our administrative assistants.Our side entrance will now remain locked, including during drop-off and pick-up. This means that all students and parents/guardians will need to enter the building through the front entrance. Drivers will still drop off students in the side parking lot, but then students will walk around to the front of the building and enter through the main doors. At the end of the day, students will still dismiss from various doors, but entry by non staff members to our building will always funnel through the more secure front door. A final change is that the front entrance will be unlocked from 7:30-8:15 am, and then again at 2:30pm. On early dismissal days, we will unlock the front door at 1:30.

Shelburne: 

Our rain garden in probably the biggest summer improvement that we can show off thus far.  All of our sidewalk curbs are currently being re-done.

Here is the story about the rain garden from WCAX.

Here is the Lewis Creek Newsletter detailing their work in Shelburne.

Williston: 

In Williston, cracked concrete paths were replaced for improved safety and appearance. Acoustic panels were installed in WCS Design and Tech Space.

Summer cleaning: Thanks to Lyall and the crew, corridors are scrubbed from carpet to ceiling so they gleam for the start of school year.

CVU: 

We've replaced half of the seating in the gym with new bleacher seats, replaced doors to the building to increase security, reorganized the Library, replaced furniture in the Business labs, and finished a conference room in the Learning Center.