CVSD Update

On Tuesday, Governor Scott announced that masks in schools can be optional beginning on February 28 for schools demonstrating that 80% of their eligible students are fully vaccinated. The State has indicated that they will inform schools of their vaccination rates, but have not given a timeline for the release of that data. While we welcome this as a sign of a return to “normal operations” within our schools, there are several factors we will need to consider before we can operationalize this new guidance.

• How will we address varying levels of vaccination within a school? What will our procedure be if, for example, one school meets the 80% criteria, but another school does not?

• We’re in the process of understanding whether schools will use our own vaccination data to determine our threshold, or if that data will be provided by the state.

• We're gathering additional information about whether unvaccinated and ineligible students (like preschool students) will continue to wear masks until they are eligible

• The school bus mask mandate continues to be a federal requirement, and so we will need to determine how to manage compliance with this.

• We will need to gather additional information on sporting events and other interscholastic activities

• We have concerns related to a return from February break, given the amount of travel that will likely occur.

• Some of our towns have their own indoor mask mandates that are reviewed monthly. We are looking at the impact, if any, that may have on schools in those towns.

With these factors and other questions in mind, we will not make any changes regarding masking until we’ve had time to gain clarity on the above. This means students and adults in our schools will remain masked when we return from the break on February 28. By the end of that first week back, we will communicate any next steps. This will give us some time to collaborate with our medical and regional school district partners, monitor the impact of cases from the break, be able to develop a plan for our students, buses, and athletes, and consider possibilities for different mask criteria within our schools.

For those families who still may have students who are not vaccinated, please consider doing so. That will help us achieve the 80% vaccinated status in all of our schools and will protect your child against serious illness. Vaccines are available at local pharmacies and Department of Health locations around the state. There’s another vaccine/booster clinic scheduled within CVSD at the Hinesburg Community School on March 9. Rather than scheduling an appointment for the HCS clinic through the Department of Health, please directly contact HCS’s nurse, Shelley Torrey, to set that up.

As I stated above, we will continue to wear masks at all schools until a new plan is put into place. We will keep families and staff informed along the way. I remain grateful for the support you have provided throughout the pandemic and appreciate your patience as we continue forward.

Have a wonderful, safe, and healthy February break.

Rene

Rapid antigen test kits are being sent home with or made available to students this week. These tests are a part of a voluntary testing program through the Agency of Education (AOE) and are not required for students to attend school. If you choose to participate, the AOE recommends that you test your child on Saturday and Sunday (2/26 and 2/27) before returning to school after the February break. If you are in need of a test kit and do not receive one this week, you can contact the district's office in Shelburne to pick one up during the break. 802-383-1234

There are some changes underway at the district’s central office. These changes will take place at the end of this school year.

Jeff Evans, our Director of Learning and Innovation, will retire at the end of June. Jeff began his work in the district 30 years ago at CVU as an English teacher and athletic coach. He was a CVU house director for two years and principal for two years before moving to the district’s central office. In his current role, he leads us in the areas of curriculum and assessment, works with our English Language Learner (ELL) educators, instructional coaches, and more. He created the Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) for the 2020-2021 school year. He writes and oversees grants, including Title 1 and ESSER. Jeff’s easy-going manner and ability to consider the whole system and its parts make him a great leader.

Meagan Roy, our Director of Student Support Services, is leaving CVSD at the end of June to assume the Superintendent position with the Washington Central Supervisory Union. Meagan has served CVSD for 10 years. In that time, she has impacted the lives of hundreds of special needs students and has moved our system towards more inclusive practices. Meagan is well-regarded not only in our district, but also around the state. In CVSD, Meagan works with the special ed directors, preschool program, school psychologists, OT/PT, Connecting Youth/Wellness Staff, and school counselors. She assumed the role of interim superintendent at least twice during Elaine Pinckney’s tenure and we are confident that she will successfully slide into her new role in WCSU.

In addition to Jeff’s and Meagan’s news, Mike Kanfer has also shared that he is retiring this year. Mike has been with CVSD for 22 years. His work as Director of Technology/Network Services is exemplary. CVSD is respected as a leader in information technology across Vermont in many ways, but most especially for how well we secure our networks, data, and privacy. Mike leads the network IT staff in our schools, the purchasing of hardware and software, phone systems, security, internet and wifi, and much more. His demeanor and calm assurances when working with all of us, from administrators, educators, staff, and especially students, is unparalleled.

Needless to say, Jeff, Meagan, and Mike will be sorely missed, not only for their high-quality work but also for the knowledge, talents, and gifts they have brought to CVSD and the relationships they have formed with us. We are sad to share this news, but are also excited for them and their next adventures.

We have contracted with Mass Insight to conduct an equity audit with the district. If you'd like to learn more about that audit, please view the recording of last week's DEI Town Hall. Representatives from Mass Insight joined us to share what they do, the timeline for the audit, and how they will be reaching out to different groups in the coming months within our communities to get input.

CVSD DEI Website

February 9, 2022 DEI Town Hall

• Please report results (positive or negative) to the Department of Health using this online form, Vermont COVID-19 Self-Test Result Reporting Form.

• Our school nurses also need to know about positive cases. Please contact your school’s nurse to share that information with them as well. It would be appreciated if you could send an email to your school's nurse over the upcoming vacation week to let them know of any identified positive cases.

Please continue to do your part by monitoring your child for symptoms and keeping them home when sick.

The proposed budget for the 2022-2023 school year has been finalized by the CVSD School Board. Please view our Annual Report and a variety of other materials to learn about the proposed budget and bond on the Budget page of our website. The full list of ballot articles can be viewed on the Annual Warning.

Kelly Bowen, CVSD School Board Finance Committee Chair, has shared posts about the proposed budget on Front Porch Forum in each CVSD town. They have been re-posted on the district's blog for those that might want to view them again.

We previously shared information about the series of videos designed to help explain specific aspects of the budget, including videos about Special Education, ESSER, Education Quality Standards, Operations, and more. See all of the videos (all 3-6 minutes in length) here.

We are happy to share two NEW videos - one about the overall proposed budget, and another that is an excerpt from that one, specifically about the proposed bond. We hope you will take the time to view them and get informed.

Resources to keep accessible:

• First Call - 488-7777: phone support, crisis intervention, assessment and referrals
• In Crisis: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) (National Hopeline Network: USA)
• National Suicide Prevention Life line- 1-800-273-TALK (8255), call or chat online
• Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 741741 (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
• Outright Vermont - support for LGBTQ+ community
• UVM Breathe In Breath Out - How to deal with stress due to COVID-19
• Vermont 211 -Vermont database of resources and services
• Vermont Support Line (833) 888-2557) - peer support warmline open 247 - 365 for call or text
• COVID Counselors @ VT-211
• Teen Crisis Text Line - Crisis Text Line provides free emotional support and information to teens in any type of crisis, including feeling suicidal. You can text with a trained specialist 24 hours a day. Text “HOME” to 741741.
• Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide - Website where you can find information to help yourself or a friend who may be having thoughts of suicide.
• Trevor Lifeline - 1-866- 488-7386 - provides suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. It offers free, 24/7, confidential counseling. TrevorText—text START to 678-678; TrevorChat—instant messaging at TheTrevorProject.org/help. It also runs TrevorSpace, an affirming social networking site for LGBTQ youth at TrevorSpace.

Serving the communities of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George, and Williston.

Reach out using any of the methods below or use this form to share a question or comment.

Email: cvsdinformation@cvsdvt.org
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org/
Location: 5420 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT, USA
Phone: (802) 383-1234
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChamplainValleySchoolDistrict
Twitter: @cvsdvt