We welcome public comment and feedback on our COVID Recovery Plan efforts.

Please click here to share your thoughts, questions and concerns.

RNESU Illness Protocol and COVID Testing Updates

Guidance from the Health Department and the Agency of Education was updated on August 10, 2022. The memo highlighted the incredible efforts of our school nurses throughout the pandemic to help keep students and staff healthy.  As we continue to shift our thinking from a pandemic to endemic state, treating COVID-19 similarly to the flu, we also need to shift our illness response protocols and testing practices, in alignment with Vermont Agency of Education guidance. For our District, this means we are planning for in person teaching and learning without restrictions. I want to note that we continue to be a mask optional District and it is important to be respectful of students and staff who choose to wear masks.

The current RNESU Illness Protocol and testing options reflect these recommendations and can be found on the district’s website. RNESU will no longer be notifying school communities when a COVID positive case is reported or identified in one of our buildings. When a student/staff member presents with symptoms, the decision to test, return to class or send an individual home will rely on our school nurses’ professional clinical decision-making and judgment. Students/staff do not need to test in order to return to school following illness.

The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) will continue to provide tests, when requested, for RNESU nurses to manage and use at their discretion, again based on their clinical decision making. Any changes to our COVID response will be communicated on the District website under Covid Planning & Recovery as well as through individual school newsletters. RNESU will not be providing updates in newsletters unless there is a significant change to the guidance. If you have any questions, please contact your student's school nurse.

2022-2023

2021-2022

2020-2021

Please read through this webpage for information about ESSER and to find important next steps for providing feedback on RNESU's proposal for how to spend ESSER III funds.

WHAT IS ESSER?

WHAT DOES ESSER STAND FOR & WHAT ARE THESE GRANTS ALL ABOUT?

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund is a federal formula grant managed by the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE). Non-recurring, emergency aid subgrants are being allocated by the AOE to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) by formula based on Title I, Part A allocations - Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union is one of those LEAs. Funds are broken down into three parts: ESSER I, ESSER II, and ESSER III. These grants are considered one-time funds.

WHAT IS TITLE I, PART A?

Title I, Part A is a Consolidated Federal Program with the purpose of providing all children a significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps. RNESU receives Title I funding each year.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT ESSER TYPES & HOW MUCH HAS RNESU BEEN ALLOCATED?

Click the links to learn more about:

  • ESSER I, also known as Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) ESSER funds. RNESU's allocation: $614,775.

  • ESSER II, an expansion of CARES ESSER funds and with the addition of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRPSA) funds. RNESU's allocation: $2,205,527.

  • ESSER III, also known as the American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER funds. RNESU's allocation: $4,957,235.

This U.S. Department of Education Fact Sheet further describes ESSER funds and the difference between each type.

VERMONT ESSER TRANSPARENCY DASHBOARD

As part of the AOE's efforts to support transparency and engagement with the public, districts and stakeholders, the AOE has released the Vermont Statewide COVID-19 Federal Relief Funds Initiatives on the Education Recovery and Revitalization website. This dashboard serves as a complement to the Supervisory Unions & Districts COVID-19 Federal Emergency Funds dashboard and highlights the Agency's prioritization of funds to respond to the impacts of the pandemic.

ESSER I & ESSER II DECISIONS

WHAT WAS CONSIDERED & WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THESE DECISIONS?

RNESU Administrators carefully considered both the:

RNESU sought input from teachers and the community: 

  • RNESU Superintendent Jeanne Collins distributed a series of surveys to all RNESU staff and hosted several virtual input and Q&A sessions throughout the 2020-2021 school year

  • The RNESU Recovery Team also reached out to a variety of community organizations, family members, student organizations and staff groups throughout the 2020-2021 school year. The RNESU Equity Committee (made up of staff, parents, community members, community organizations, students, administrators) participated in a “Needs Assessment” and provided input in recovery planning

WHAT DECISIONS HAVE BEEN OR WILL SOON BE MADE?

  • ESSER I: A major finding of the RNESU Needs Assessment suggested that technology infrastructure and programming was critical to the success of our schools, students, and families. A large part of the ESSER I was devoted to this need through the purchases of: 1:1 Chromebooks, wireless & data internet plans, technology supplies, cameras/microphones, and printers. 

  • ESSER II: A proposal for how to spend these funds was presented to the Board of School Directors on March 24th, 2021. The discussion continued at subsequent meetings, and the Board authorized the RNESU Administrators to “make applications, accept and administer state and federal funds and programs for the 2021-2022 school year.” https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eZ_-_-UQcFu-kfuZ5BmYbYzxR6ZJLAv4/view

UP NEXT: ESSER III - MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION

WHAT IS ‘MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION’?

A major component of how RNESU will spend ESSER III funds will depend on the feedback received on plans built by the administrative team. The administrative team will intentionally seek feedback from RNESU families of BIPOC students, students on IEPs, and English Language Learners (EL).

HOW TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS

1) Review this document to learn more about the limitations and opportunities for how to spend ESSER III funds.

2) Watch the ESSER presentation hosted by Curriculum Director Kristin Hubert. View this accompanying presentation as you listen!

3) Provide feedback to RNESU Administrators by filling out this ESSER III Public Survey.

4) More ESSER and Recovery/Redesign events will be announced soon.

All events are open to all members of the RNESU community. BIPOC (black, indigenous, and other people of color), IEP (Individualized Educational Plan), and EL (English-language learners) families, as well as families participating in the Free and Reduced Price Meals program, will receive a direct invitation to events. They will also be advertised on our social media channels and through other RNESU communication networks

5) Attend and make public comment at an RNESU Board of School Directors Meeting.