Dear WSD Staff and Families,
December 13, 2020 – I am writing to you this evening with some important information. Throughout the entire weekend, the WSD COVID-19 Response Team has been working closely with the Vermont Department of Health (VDH). Unfortunately, at this point, fifteen (15) members of our learning community have confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by this relentless virus.
Community Transmission
WSD’s understanding from the VDH contact tracing team is that each positive case in our district is due to community transmission. That means that the infected individuals did not catch COVID-19 at school. Rather, they contracted the virus through close contact with an infected person at home or out in the community. This is important to mention because that means that our district’s virus mitigation strategies are working. We must all continue to avoid in-person visits with anyone we do not live with, including extended family members, close friends, and people in our “pods” until public health experts consider it safe.
Extension of Fully Remote Learning
Our district will remain in our fully remote learning model through Tuesday, December 22, which will lead to winter break. Our hope is to return to our previous in-person instruction schedule on January 4. While VDH has assured us that because of our success at following safety procedures our schools are safe for in-person learning, we have made this difficult decision due to staffing challenges and out of an abundance of caution.
The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Our learning community is counting on you to continue doing everything in your power to keep us all healthy.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the COVID-19 hotline: 802-556-2243
Take care,
Sean McMannon, Superintendent