Recap from last night's Varsity Girls Basketball game hosting Hartford!
https://www.rutlandherald.com/sports/otter-valley-holds-off-hartford/article_b9afd637-2e58-5249-b153-d484099380fd.html?utm_source=sports-newsletter&utm_campaign=local-sports&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
Recap from last night's Varsity Boys Basketball game at MSJ!
https://www.rutlandherald.com/sports/mounties-get-away-from-pesky-otters/article_7b9bcf2b-dd0c-5284-a100-984b01464d84.html?utm_source=sports-newsletter&utm_campaign=local-sports&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
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 a
Congratulations to the following students who received Student of the Marking Period at Stafford Technical Center!
Madison Gilmore - Digital Arts
Cade Landesman - Math Department
Recap from last night's Varsity Girls Basketball game @ Woodstock!
https://www.rutlandherald.com/sports/roundup-rutland-takes-care-of-business-at-bratt/article_914f922b-b63f-5dab-aa13-3c51e12fbd0a.html?utm_source=sports-newsletter&utm_campaign=local-sports&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
Recap from last night's Varsity Boys Basketball game at Fair Haven!
https://www.rutlandherald.com/sports/first-half-keys-fair-haven-over-ov/article_4da4038a-94c0-56db-9758-faf02046a13e.html?utm_source=sports-newsletter&utm_campaign=local-sports&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
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)
Recap from Jan 20th OV Varsity Girls Basketball win over Burr & Burton!
https://www.rutlandherald.com/sports/keith-free-throws-clinch-ov-win/article_acf02bdf-b4cd-5eae-89db-2406d5571968.html?utm_source=sports-newsletter&utm_campaign=local-sports&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
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!
Recap from last night's Varsity Girls Basketball game at Windsor!
https://www.rutlandherald.com/sports/roundup-solons-roll-past-msj/article_518145fe-4d9d-5084-b1e3-aa9f5fa123fb.html?utm_source=sports-newsletter&utm_campaign=local-sports&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
Recap from Jan 14th OV Varsity boys hosting MSJ basketball!
https://www.rutlandherald.com/sports/mounties-cruise-past-otter-valley/article_e6ad5fdc-0079-5d25-9d9c-b2c8a1d8584f.html?utm_source=sports-newsletter&utm_campaign=local-sports&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
Recap from Rutland Herald from Jan 14th OV @ Vergennes Varsity Girls Basketball game!
https://www.rutlandherald.com/sports/roundup-slaters-pull-away-from-windsor-64-47/article_0cde4240-83dd-56d6-84ca-1f541dd8ffce.html?utm_source=sports-newsletter&utm_campaign=local-sports&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
Recap from Herald preview from OV @ Rutland Varsity Girls Basketball January 11th!
https://www.rutlandherald.com/sports/rutland-stifles-otter-valley/article_afe0ae8b-c8ba-50b7-b391-33b5bbad587f.html?utm_source=sports-newsletter&utm_campaign=local-sports&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
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.