Lothrop School

Jan 28, 2022 Dear Parents/Guardians While we continue to have cases of COVID in our schools daily, the numbers are starting to decrease a bit. It is hopeful that trend will continue. We are slowly getting supplies from the state for Test at Home and will distribute them according to guidance as needed. We also will use any other testing tools we have available to us to test at school when we need to. We are hoping to move away from closing classes as we work together to respond quickly to the many cases that continue to arise. I have been asked by a parent when we will revisit the mask mandate as well. That will be revisited by the state (agency of education and department of health together) on Feb. 28 and we will wait for their recommendation. For now, masking is still a mandate indoors at all schools. Please help us reinforce this mandate to help us get through the latest variant surge. This email covers (updated information on topics from last week) MAEC Climate Survey for RNESU Parents due Jan 31 School Budget Information and Annual Reports Superintendent Search Update Vaccination Clinics Updated School COVID Guidance Veggie Van Go Feb. 7 Calendar Notes including 2022-2023 Calendar School Board Meetings FINAL CHANCE TO BE HEARD! MAEC CLIMATE SURVEY FOR RNESU PARENTS (Closes Jan. 31) All RNESU Parents are invited and encouraged to complete the following anonymous Climate Survey for RNESU parents: https://maec.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ePvo4mWGmlCOlxk This Climate Survey is part of a study being conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium (MAEC) to understand how RNESU can advance equity across our district, including feelings and experiences of safety, belonging, and equitable access to high-quality instruction and support services. As you are the backbone of our schools, your feedback will be so critical in informing this study. If you have questions about the survey or the MAEC study, don't hesitate to contact Susannah White, Equity & Engagement Coach, swhite@rnesu.org . Thank you for your time and care in completing this important survey. SCHOOL BUDGET INFORMATION AND ANNUAL REPORTS Barstow and OV School boards have all finalized budgets for voter approval for the coming school year. Read about the budget proposals at the links below and watch for our annual reports to land in your mailboxes and to be posted on our web pages. To learn more and to ask questions, both boards will hold annual meetings in February. Barstow’s will be Feb. 22 virtually at 6:30 pm and Otter Valley’s will be Feb. 23 in person at OVUHS at 6:30 pm. FY23 OVUU Budget Presentation Presentation: BUUSD FY23 Budget SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH UPDATE The Superintendent Search Committee has narrowed down the candidate field to three candidates and will be hosting all three in site visits to all schools on Feb. 3, 2021. Watch for information on candidate forums. RNESU has a web page to keep the community informed about the search process. You can follow it here. https://www.rnesu.org/page/superintendent-search VACCINE CLINICS SCHEDULED FOR STUDENTS AND ADULTS Leicester School will have a Vaccination Clinic available for all families on Feb. 8 and March 3. Registration is required through the state site. This is the link to the registration portal. Please register only for the 2/8 clinic. We will schedule your child for dose 2 on the day of the 2/8 clinic as part of the exit process. Login (force.com) Lothrop School will have a Vaccination Clinic Feb 16 from 1-4:15 pm in the gymnasium. Schedule an appointment at https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine Or call 855-722-7878 Walkins are welcome. Children under 18 need a completed consent form from a parent/guardian and will not receive a vaccine or booster without that consent. Please note children 12-18 are now eligible for a booster vaccine. UPDATED COVID GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS Here are the new AOE guidelines as of Jan. 2022: Fully Vaccinated Students should receive 2 tests and use them on the 4th and 5th day after learning of the presumptive exposure. Fully vaccinated for students means completion of the two shot Pfizer series. Not Fully Vaccinated Students should receive 5 tests and use them before coming to school for the next 5 consecutive days after their presumptive exposure. Individuals that have continuous household exposure should test daily while their household contact is in isolation and for 5 consecutive days after the household contact ends isolation. Positive COVID Test Students that have had COVID in the last 90 days do not have to test or quarantine. Students with any symptoms must quarantine. Students may return to school when they have 2 negative antigen tests, at least 24 hours apart, improved symptoms and no fever for 24 hours. Please note : When our schools do not have 2 pak or 5 pak antigen tests to send home, our nurses will test at school until our Test to Stay supplies are used up. Upon a close contact student's arrival at school, they should report to the health office at Otter Valley and to their classroom at the Elementary schools. Students with symptoms need to stay home. Asymptomatic presumptive contact students will be tested if consent is given and can remain in school with a negative test. Parents will be called to pick up their child if the child has a positive test or has symptoms. Parents need to alert the nurse that their child will be arriving for the antigen test. Parents MUST register their children to allow antigen testing at school at the two links provided previously if they haven't already done so. Consent is optional but must be on file if you want your child to be given an antigen test at school. VT AOE COVID Response Testing Consent Form Second, please click on the link below and fill out that form as well. If you have more than one child, you will need to fill out the links for each. You do not need to provide the student id. Barstow - https://www.simplereport.gov/register/WMN72 Lothrop - https://www.simplereport.gov/register/Z2M73 Neshobe - https://www.simplereport.gov/register/BJYUU OCA - https://www.simplereport.gov/register/AMYCD OV - https://www.simplereport.gov/register/KUZ8A VEGGIE VAN GO FEB DATE WILL BE FEB. 7 Veggie Van Go is a free fruit and vegetable distribution to all RNESU families and staff. February’s date will change to Feb. 7, from 10-11 am at the OVUHS parking lot. This event is sponsored by the Vermont Foodbank and is open to all students, families, and staff affiliated with all Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union Schools: Barstow Memorial, Lothrop Elementary, Neshobe Elementary, Otter Creek Academy at Leicester, Sudbury and Whiting., & Otter Valley Middle and High School. There are no eligibility requirements and no reservations needed. Important Reminders: CALENDAR NOTES February Early Release Day Feb. 11 February break is the week of Feb. 21-25 Election Day March 1, 2022. Absentee ballots available at the town clerk offices. The 2022-2023 calendar has been posted on the RNESU web page at The first day of school is anticipated to be August 31, 2022. 2022-2023 District Calendar SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS School Board meetings are open to the public. Meeting information can be found on the district calendar or on the district website, www.rnesu.org, Upcoming meetings: BUU Board meets Jan 31, 6pm, virtual only. OVUU meets Feb 2, 6pm. At OVUHS RNESU meets Feb 23, 5 pm at OVUHS Barstow Budget Informational Meeting Feb. 22, 6:30 pm virtual meeting Otter Valley Annual Meeting Feb. 23, 6:30 pm in person at OVUHS We are still in a deep freeze- winter is here! Please send students with appropriate winter clothing or speak to your school nurse or principal if you need mittens, coats, boots, etc. Jeanné Collins, Superintendent of RNESU www.rnesu.org School Safety Hotline # (844) 723-3488 or www.SAFE4VT.org or text to 274637, type in keyword SAFE4VT and then your tip

SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET UPDATE & UPCOMING MEETINGS: School Board meetings are open to the public as in-person meetings with a zoom option for those who wish to attend virtually. Meeting information can be found on the district calendar or on the district website, www.rnesu.org. All boards have now approved budgets for 2022-2023 for voter approval on March 1, 2022. Stay tuned for more information or go to the board page to see the presentations. Upcoming meetings: ➤ BUU Board meets Monday, January 31st, 6 PM ➤ OVUU meets Wednesday, February 2nd, 6PM (the Jan 19th meeting was cancelled)

MAEC CLIMATE SURVEY FOR RNESU PARENTS (Closes Jan. 31): ➤ All RNESU Parents are invited and encouraged to complete the following anonymous Climate Survey for RNESU parents: https://maec.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ePvo4mWGmlCOlxk This Climate Survey is part of a study being conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium (MAEC) to understand how RNESU can advance equity across our district, including feelings and experiences of safety, belonging, and equitable access to high-quality instruction and support services. As you are the backbone of our schools, your feedback will be so critical in informing this study. If you have questions about the survey or the MAEC study, don't hesitate to contact Susannah White, Equity & Engagement Coach, swhite@rnesu.org . Thank you for your time and care in completing this important survey.

CHANGING COVID GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS : We have received the official written guidance from the Agency of Ed. Here is an overview of what to expect: ➤ Schools will shift away from contact tracing and weekly PCR surveillance tests. Entire classrooms will not need to be sent home for being close contacts ➤ Parents will be notified if their child is a presumptive contact based on the classes they are in. ➤ Schools will send home rapid antigen test kits to unvaccinated and symptomatic students and to presumptive contacts to test at home for five days before coming to school. *This is dependent on the supplies we get from the state. ➤ Vaccinated students who are presumptive contacts will be able to attend school without testing if asymptomatic. Students are considered fully vaccinated if they have completed their two dose series of a vaccine ➤ School nurses will be able to test staff or students in the school who develop symptoms using rapid antigen or LAMP tests So what does this mean? ➤ We will not be doing Test to Stay in classrooms of students nor sending home entire classrooms as soon as we are able to transition to sending tests home ➤ Instead we will give test kits for at home testing to those identified as presumptive contacts who are unvaccinated or symptomatic. ➤ Weekly surveillance testing will come to an end (date uncertain). For updated information on close contacts and what to do if you are positive: ➤ VDH close contact page Jan 2022 (https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/symptoms-sickness/what-do-if-you-are-close-contact) ➤ VDH Positive COVID page (https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/symptoms-sickness/what-do-if-you-test-positive-covid-19)

REMINDER: EARLY RELEASE DAY TOMORROW, FRIDAY - JANUARY 21, 2022!

SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH UPDATE: RNESU has begun the search for a new superintendent as I plan to retire this June. A community forum was held on Jan 6 to help inform the board of what the community would like to see in the next superintendent. RNESU has a web page to keep the community informed about the search process. You can follow it here. https://www.rnesu.org/page/superintendent-search

NO VEGGIE VAN GO MONDAY JAN 17 - DATE CHANGED TO JAN 24: Veggie Van Go is a free fruit and vegetable distribution to all RNESU families and staff. Normally occurring on the 3rd Monday of each month ➤January’s date will change to Jan 24, from 10-11 am at the OVUHS parking lot. This event is sponsored by the Vermont Foodbank and is open to all students, families, and staff affiliated with all Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union Schools: Barstow Memorial, Lothrop Elementary, Neshobe Elementary, Otter Creek Academy at Leicester, Sudbury and Whiting., & Otter Valley Middle and High School. There are no eligibility requirements and no reservations needed.

NOW OPEN | MAEC CLIMATE SURVEY FOR RNESU PARENTS (CLOSES JANUARY 31st): All RNESU Parents are invited and encouraged to complete the following anonymous Climate Survey for RNESU parents: https://maec.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ePvo4mWGmlCOlxk ➤ This Climate Survey is part of a study being conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium (MAEC) to understand how RNESU can advance equity across our district, including feelings and experiences of safety, belonging, and equitable access to high-quality instruction and support services. As you are the backbone of our schools, your feedback will be so critical in informing this study. ➤ If you have questions about the survey or the MAEC study, don't hesitate to contact Susannah White, Equity & Engagement Coach, swhite@rnesu.org . Thank you for your time and care in completing this important survey.

Jan 14, 2022 Dear Parents/Guardians It has been an exhausting two weeks, with cases in every school, high numbers of absences, large administration of Test to Stay kits and several classes out. In fact, today Barstow and Lothrop are out with over half of the student population affected (through close contacts). We are told we are in the midst of the peak of this surge and it will start to slow down in a week or two. Let us hope so. A huge shout out once again to our highly competent and professional nurses for all they are doing to trace, test, and communicate with families, and to our admin assistants and our principals/admin team for helping with this work. Every case can be several hours of contact tracing and positive cases are popping up seven days a week. Read below to see how things are changing. This email covers *Board Vacancy Information *Changing School COVID Guidance *Vaccination and Booster Shot Information *Veggie Van Go Jan 24 *MAEC Climate Survey for RNESU Parents *Superintendent Search Information *Calendar Notes *School Board Meetings INTERESTED IN BEING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER? Petitions due Jan 24 The Barstow Unified Union School District is seeking candidates for the Office of School Board of Director* for the coming election in March 2022: *Chittenden *Mendon *At-Large - 2 years remaining of a 3 year term The Otter Valley Unified Union School District is seeking candidates for the Office of School Board of Director* for the coming election in March 2022: *Brandon *Leicester – 1 year remaining of a 3 year term *Pittsford *Sudbury *At-Large – 2 Seats: one for a 3 year term and one for 1 year remaining of a 3 year term (candidates can be from any of the OVUUSD towns: Brandon; Goshen; Leicester; Pittsford Sudbury; and Whiting) *All seats are three year terms unless noted otherwise. Petitions are available through the links above, at your Town Clerk’s Office and the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union Central Office at 49 Court Drive in Brandon. Requests for petitions can also be made by calling the RNESU Central Office at (802) 247-5757. Completed petitions Consent of Candidate Form, are due to your Town Clerk by Monday, January 24, 2022. Petitions for town specific seats require signatures of the lesser of 1% of registered voters or 30 signatures. Petitions for at-large seats require the signature of 60 registered voters. CHANGING COVID GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS As of this writing, I do not have the official written guidance from the Agency of Ed, but I do have an overview of what to expect: *Schools will shift away from contact tracing and weekly PCR surveillance tests. *Entire classrooms will not need to be sent home for being close contacts *Schools will send home rapid antigen test kits to unvaccinated and symptomatic students and to close contacts to test at home for five days before coming to school *Vaccinated students who are close contacts will be able to attend school without testing if asymptomatic. Students are considered fully vaccinated if they have completed their two dose series of a vaccine *School nurses will be able to test anyone in the school community who develops symptoms using rapid antigen or LAMP tests So what does this mean? *We will not be doing Test to Stay in classrooms of students nor sending home entire classrooms. *Instead we will give test kits for at home testing to those identified as close contacts who are unvaccinated or symptomatic. *Weekly surveillance testing will come to an end (date uncertain). For updated information on close contacts and what to do if you are positive: *VDH close contact page Jan 2022 *VDH Positive COVID page When I receive complete guidance from the AOE, I will communicate the details further. VACCINE/BOOSTER SHOT INFORMATION FOR AGES 12-15 YEAR OLDS Leicester School will have a Vaccination Clinic available for all families on Feb. 8 and March 3.Registration is required through the state site. Please register only for the 2/8 clinic. We will schedule your child for dose 2 on the day of the 2/8 clinic as part of the exit process. Children ages 12-15 are now eligible for a booster shot. See Health Department FAQ for more information or talk to your child’s pediatrician. Appointments are available in the state's registration system. VEGGIE VAN GO DATE CHANGED TO JAN 24 Veggie Van Go is a free fruit and vegetable distribution to all RNESU families and staff. Normally occurring on the 3rd Monday of each month, January’s date will change to Jan 24, from 10-11 am at the OVUHS parking lot. This event is sponsored by the Vermont Foodbank and is open to all students, families, and staff affiliated with all Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union Schools: Barstow Memorial, Lothrop Elementary, Neshobe Elementary, Otter Creek Academy at Leicester, Sudbury and Whiting., & Otter Valley Middle and High School. There are no eligibility requirements and no reservations needed. MAEC CLIMATE SURVEY FOR RNESU PARENTS (Closes Jan. 31) All RNESU Parents are invited and encouraged to complete the following anonymous Climate Survey for RNESU parents: https://maec.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ePvo4mWGmlCOlxk This Climate Survey is part of a study being conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium (MAEC) to understand how RNESU can advance equity across our district, including feelings and experiences of safety, belonging, and equitable access to high-quality instruction and support services. As you are the backbone of our schools, your feedback will be so critical in informing this study. If you have questions about the survey or the MAEC study, don't hesitate to contact Susannah White, Equity & Engagement Coach, swhite@rnesu.org . Thank you for your time and care in completing this important survey. SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH INFORMATION The Superintendent Search Committee has narrowed down the candidate field to three candidates and will be conducting first round hiring committee interviews on Thursday, January 27. Plans are in place for students, faculty , staff and the community to meet the finalists once they have been identified. RNESU has a web page to keep the community informed about the search process. You can follow it here. https://www.rnesu.org/page/superintendent-search Important Reminders: Calendar Notes *No School Jan 17 for Martin Luther King Day *Early Release Jan 21 for Staff Professional Learning Committees *February break is the week of Feb. 21 *Next year’s calendar is in development and should be completed in early February. The first day of school is anticipated to be Aug 31, 2022 SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS School Board meetings are open to the public as in-person meetings with a zoom option for those who wish to attend virtually. Meeting information can be found on the district calendar or on the district website, www.rnesu.org, All boards have now approved budgets for 2022-2023 for voter approval on March 1, 2022. Stay tuned for more information or go to the board page to see the presentations. Upcoming meetings: *RNESU Board meets Jan. 19, 5 pm ​​ *BUU Board meets Jan 31, 6pm *OVUU meets Feb 2, 6pm. The Jan 19 meeting has been cancelled Stay warm this weekend and watch for a possible snow storm Sun - Tuesday! Jeanné Collins, Superintendent of RNESU www.rnesu.org School Safety Hotline # (844) 723-3488 or www.SAFE4VT.org or text to 274637, type in keyword SAFE4VT and then your tip

~From Lothrop Principal Please see the email sent earlier. Lothrop School will move to remote learning for tomorrow, 1/14/22. Teachers will be sending instructions for learners to connect tomorrow. Be well!

VEGGIE VAN GO MONDAY JANUARY 17 - 10 AM to 11 AM @ OVUHS: On Monday, January 17 from 10 AM to 11 AM the Vermont Foodbank will be at OVUHS to distribute free fruits and veggies to all who stop by. All families of school children and staff are welcome!! This free monthly produce distribution (3rd Monday of each month) event is open to all students, families, and staff affiliated with all Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union Schools: Barstow Memorial, Lothrop Elementary, Neshobe Elementary, Otter Creek Academy at Leicester, Sudbury and Whiting., & Otter Valley Middle and High School. There are no eligibility requirements and no reservations needed.

BOOSTER SHOT INFORMATION FOR AGES 12-15 YEAR OLDS: The state's registration system ( https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine/getting-covid-19-vaccine) has appointments available for parents/caregivers to register their children aged 12-15 for a booster vaccination appointment. Per the CDC earlier this month, individuals are now eligible for a booster five months after completing their initial Pfizer vaccine series. ➤ See: Health Department FAQ - Am I eligible for a booster shot or an extra dose of the COVID-19 vaccine? https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/faqs#boostershot

~From Lothrop Principal Good afternoon Lothrop Families, Please check your email as I sent out several letters notifying families of exposures to positive COVID-19 cases. I have also sent a letter from Superintendent Collins notifying the community of our number of recent positive COVID-19 cases. It would be very helpful if families who were notified of their child's exposure to please respond when they receive the email.  If you are signing up for Test to Stay today, please include that information with your response, so that Melanie can confirm that it went through. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Melanie or I with questions.  We will respond as quickly as we are able. Thank you for your continued support!

INTERESTED IN SERVING ON ONE OF OUR SCHOOL BOARDS? Go to the school board page on rnesu.org to learn what seats are open and to get a petition. Petitions are due to town clerks by Monday - January 24, 2022. ➤ OVUU meets for a board candidate orientation on Wednesday, January 12th at OVUHS library at 5 PM followed by a board meeting to approve the budget at 6 PM. Meetings are in person and online ➤ BUU Board meets Wednesday, January 12th at 5 PM for a board candidate orientation at the Chittenden Library in Barstow School followed by a board meeting at 6 PM. Meetings are in person and online

Dear parents and guardians Tomorrow's temperature at morning pick up are anticipated to be in the double digit negative numbers. Windchill has the potential of being 26 below 0.  We plan to stay open assuming our buses will start. We will take steps to ensure they start. Please dress your child accordingly for the trip to school. Boots, gloves, coats are a must. Do not allow your child to walk to a bus stop. If you are unable to drive your child to the bus and wait for it to arrive, or to the school directly, then please consider keeping them at home. This is quite dangerous weather. Thank you. Be safe.

WHAT ABOUT QUARANTINING? Under the revised VDH guidance, quarantines for close contacts are now shorter. ➤ 5 days is now recommended and you can leave quarantine IF you have no symptoms or your symptoms are improving, including no fever for at least 24 hours unmedicated and you wear a mask for another 5 days. It is also recommended that you test again no earlier than day 4. This is a recommendation and not a requirement. ➤ Quarantine for positive cases has also been updated and can be found at this link. https://tinyurl.com/2p9n78t2

IS MY CHILD CONSIDERED FULLY VACCINATE UNDER UPDATED VDH GUIDANCE? To be considered fully vaccinated you must be boosted OR vaccinated with two shots of Pfizer or Moderna within 6 months or one shot of Johnson & Johnson within 2 months. ➤ Our students are only eligible for Pfizer. Boosters were only recently available to kids 16 and above; 12-15 year olds were approved for boosters as of this week. ➤ Thus, the majority of our students will need to quarantine if considered a close contact, unless their vaccination is within 6 months or they have the booster.

UPDATED COVID GUIDANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: On Dec 29, CDC updated its guidance particularly around the definition of fully vaccinated and quarantine guidelines. Within a day or so, VT updated their guidance. We follow the VT Department of Health guidance in the RNESU schools. Click on the links below to learn what you now need to do if positive or a close contact: VDH close contact page Jan 2022: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/symptoms-sickness/what-do-if-you-are-close-contact VDH Positive COVID page: https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/COVID-19_What-to-do-if-you-are-diagnosed-with-COVID-19_final.pdf

As of today, the state's registration system has appointments available for parents/caregivers to register their children aged 12-15 for a booster vaccination appointment. Per the CDC earlier this month, individuals are now eligible for a booster five months after completing their initial Pfizer vaccine series.

The RNESU Superintendent Search Committee is looking for your input on the skills and dispositions you are hoping the new superintendent will possess. Please participate by attending a virtual input session: Zoom on Thursday, January 6 at 6:00 PM. Zoom link and details to participate can be found on the calendar at https://www.rnesu.org/events If you are unable to attend, but have input you would like to share, please use the Thought Exchange or submit your input through Le'ts Talk at https://www.rnesu.org/page/superintendent-search.