Dear EWSD Families and Staff,

 

Today we wanted to share some important milestones in our District’s COVID Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and COVID-related supply program. 

 

Here are some of the items we received this week:

• 2,170 Disposable Gowns arrived this week. The District is now fully stocked to meet the anticipated need for protective gowns for our school nurses for the entire school year!
• 1,000 Face Shields. The District has now acquired its supply of reusable face shields for the year. All staff will receive a face shield in addition to reusable masks. Extra plastic face shields will be strategically distributed across the district.
• 10,000 KN95 Masks were distributed to EWSD through a joint program with Vermont Agency of Education and Transportation.
• 5 Disinfectant Spray Foggers have arrived and are ready to be placed in the hands of School Custodians.
• Non-Medical Nitrile Gloves (Size Large) were restocked in this latest shipment. 

 

As of this week, the following PPE orders are in progress awaiting shipment to EWSD:

• 25 Disinfectant Foggers (in addition to 20 foggers already in our inventory)
• 200 32x32-inch Plexiglas Barriers
• 1,300 Reusable Youth Student Cloth Face Masks (Size Small)  
• 2,100 Reusable Youth Cloth Face Masks (Size Medium)  
• 5,100 Reusable Student Cloth Face Masks (Size Youth/Adult) 
• 400 SafeNClear Communicator Masks 

We intend to provide further communication about inventory updates soon as items arrive. It’s another way that the EWSD is preparing for a Strong and Healthy Start as we move toward a school reopening in September. 

 

If you have any questions, please contact District Operations at nwheel@ewsd.org.

Dear Families,

 

The EWSD school nurses are looking forward to welcoming our students back to school. We want to provide some guidance on how we can do this as safely as possible. Here are our current general recommendations: 

• Model and practice mask-wearing with your students. It will be expected that staff and students will wear masks in EWSD buildings. EWSD will be distributing two reusable, cloth masks to each student. When attending school, students should arrive wearing a mask and have a spare mask. If a mask is needed at any time during the school day, there will be cloth and disposable masks available in offices, classrooms, and health offices. In approved circumstances, a face shield may be worn instead of a mask. If you believe your student can not wear a mask/facial covering, please contact your school nurse.
• How to wear face coverings
• Discuss and model social distancing. Social distancing will be observed in EWSD buildings and on EWSD property.
• Demonstrate and practice proper handwashing techniques. Students and staff will be expected to practice hand hygiene upon arrival to school, prior to eating, after using the bathroom, when moving from one physical space in the building to another, after using a tissue for coughing or sneezing, after treating a cut or wound.
• Practice and model the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (>60% alcohol).
• Handwashing: when and how
• In general, only students and staff will be entering buildings.
• Food cannot be brought into the school for sharing and/or celebrations.
• Food allergy specific guidelines will be shared with families for individual classrooms.
• Water fountains will not be available. Please send in a water bottle with your student.
• Students will not come to school if they have signs or symptoms of COVID-19 (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Students should not come to school if they have been in close contact with a person who has, or is suspected of having, COVID-19. Contact your school nurse for guidance on when your student can return to school.
• Per Governor Scott’s Executive Order, students must follow quarantine guidelines when traveling to certain counties in other states.
• If your student becomes sick with COVID-19 signs and/or symptoms during the school day, they will be dismissed promptly. For younger students, the expectation is that they will be picked up within approximately 30 minutes. For older students that are unable to drive or walk home, the expectation is that they will be picked up within approximately 30 minutes. 

 

Guidelines and protocols may change from time to time. We will communicate changes as soon as we are able. Please reach out to your school nurse with questions and concerns (emails and phone numbers can be found on the school websites).

 

*Please know that you can find updates around school reopening and more at: www.ewsd.org/2020-2021

 

Sincerely,

 

The EWSD School Nurse Team

Dear Families and Staff,

 

To promote a strong and healthy return to school in 2020-21, the EWSD has developed a centralized Personal Protective Equipment and COVID-related supply program. This coordination will allow us to obtain necessary supplies and comply with state bid requirements.

 

The EWSD has joined the Food Service Directors’ Association’s statewide buying group to ensure the best pricing and service possible. Items available in the program can be found here. Additional items are being added to the contract as new needs are identified. 

 

As we move toward reopening schools in September, these materials are being distributed to each location so that our schools are ready for teaching and learning. These initial materials and quantities will be supported by the District maintaining an adequate on-hand inventory and setting reorder points. 

 

District-wide Face Coverings & Shields

• 2 cloth reusable masks per student
• 2 cloth reusable EWSD-branded masks per staff person
• 1 reusable face shield per staff person
• 1 package SafeNClear communicator masks for select Special Education/ELL staff
• Free-standing 32”x32”, tabletop plexiglass shields/dividers (for high traffic areas where face shields are impractical - schools will receive a supply of shields/dividers that can be placed at the discretion of the principal)

 

District-wide Instructional Classroom Kits

• 1 box of disposable three-layer masks 
• 1 14oz bottle alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• 1 1-gallon alcohol-based hand sanitizer with dispenser 
• 1 reusable face shield
• 1 box of nitrile gloves 
• 1 bottle of spray disinfectant
• 1 container of hard surface disinfectant wipes
• 2 reusable/washable microfiber cloths 
• 1 labeled caddy for storing supplies

 

District-wide Office/Department Kits

• 1 box of disposable three-layer masks 
• 1 14oz bottle alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• 1 1-gallon alcohol-based hand sanitizer with dispenser 
• 1 reusable face shield
• 1 box of nitrile gloves 
• 1 bottle of spray disinfectant
• 1 container of hard surface disinfectant wipes
• 2 reusable/washable microfiber cloths 
• 1 labeled caddy for storing supplies
• 1 non-contact thermometer 
• 1 box reusable masks for student

 

District-wide Nurse/Health Office Kits

• 10 boxes of disposable three-layer masks (youth/adult sized)
• 50 N95 disposable masks
• 50 KN95 disposable masks
• 5 reusable face shields
• 1 1-gallon alcohol-based hand sanitizer with dispenser 
• 10 boxes of medical and non-medical gloves 
• 2 bottles of spray disinfectant
• 5 containers of hard surface disinfectant wipes
• 6 reusable/washable microfiber cloths 
• 5 non-contact thermometers 
• 2 packages of protective gowns
• 2 boxes of shoe coverings

 

Transportation Supplies

• 35 boxes of disposable three-layer masks 
• 35 14oz bottle alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• 7 1-gallon alcohol-based hand sanitizer with dispenser 
• 1 box (50 count+) alcohol swabs (for cleaning face shields & thermometers)
• 2 reusable face shields
• 35 boxes of nitrile gloves 
• 35 bottles of spray disinfectant
• 35 containers of hard surface disinfectant wipes
• 35 labeled bus caddies for storing supplies
• 1 non-contact thermometer 
• 10 boxes of reusable masks for student
• 35 COVID safety reminder signs for each bus terminal 
• 5-10 disinfecting foggers with batteries/extension cords
• Extra fogger cleaning solution/tablets
• 5 gallon-size Ziploc bags for safe disposal of contaminated items
• 35 pedal-operated trash cans 

 

District-wide Safety Supplies & Equipment

• 2 disinfectant foggers (based on sq ft some schools will have more)
• 12-24 social distance floor decals
• Directional floor decals
• 3 sandwich-board COVID-19 stop signs
• 10-20 safety cones
• 5-10 a-frame traffic barricades 
• 2-8 retractable 10’ stanchions
• Visitor signage for all entrances

 

To view the latest updates from the District, please visit: www.ewsd.org/2020-2021

 

The EWSD Leadership Team

Dear Families,

We have asked you to choose between a hybrid model (a combination of in-person instruction and remote) or fully remote. We know this is a difficult decision, and we appreciate your patience as we work on our models. We have included a sample schedule for both K-5 students and one for students in grades 6-8. 

As you are aware, on July 15, the Vermont Agency of Education issued guidance to support a strong and healthy start to the school year. As part of that guidance, the hybrid model was recommended.

The District has put together an outline for what the hybrid learning model will look like for our students when we return to school on Tuesday, September 8:

• K-5 Hybrid Model - Example
• 6-8 Hybrid Model - Example

Why the Hybrid Model?

• Return to school is student-centered, focused on social-emotional needs, and designed to keep our students learning at a high level
• The hybrid model affords the ability to offer in-person learning in the safest environment possible while adhering to the best practices of the guidance issued by the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) (allowing six-feet social distancing)
• The hybrid model will best address the health and safety of our students and staff given the current health data available
• Having fewer students in the building at a time will help reduce contact with others and allow for improved distancing. The smaller groups will also allow teachers and staff more time to assess the academic progress and needs of our students. 
• With fewer students in the building, we can better assist them in adjusting to new expectations while fostering healthy routines throughout the day, such as regular hand washing.
• The ability to use both asynchronous (not occurring at the same time for all students) and synchronous (occurring at the same time for students) teaching methods

We hope that this will help you and your family. I would also like to remind you to please finish the supplemental registration survey if you have not yet already done so. That is due by Friday, August 7.

For more information on the 2020-2021 school year, please visit: www.ewsd.org/2020-2021

With gratitude,

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent

Dear EWSD Families,

The Essex Westford School District recently announced that schools will open this fall in the hybrid phase of instruction that would result in children coming to school two full days per week (Mon and Tues, or Thurs and Fri) for most students. The same is true for all districts in Chittenden County.

We know this hybrid model causes hardships for parents and their work schedules. The District and our community partners have been working together to provide a solution for child supervision during the three remote days. It is our hope that we can find state funding to offset the cost to families or at least have this offered at a reduced fee.

If you are in need of school-day child supervision during this hybrid phase, please complete this request form. This will help us to better understand the needs of our families and to inform our work with our community partners.

The deadline to complete this survey is Tuesday, August 11, 2020. This survey is ONLY for us to collect numbers so that we understand what spaces are needed in our community. Actual registration will need to be completed at a later date.

With gratitude,

Beth Cobb

EWSD Superintendent

Dear EWSD Families and Staff,

 

I appreciate your patience and understanding as we work together to provide the best possible, safe, and healthy experience for our students and staff. I wanted to share a few updates that have taken place since our last communication with each of you. 

 

• Vermont Governor Phil Scott has signed a directive officially making Tuesday, September 8 as the universal reopening date for Vermont schools. The Essex Westford School District was previously scheduled to welcome students back on Thursday, August 27. We are waiting to find out whether this will extend the school year further into June. 
• The EWSD Board met on July 28 and you can now view the presentation that was given on the reopening of schools, as well as watch the meeting if you missed it. The District is still working on answering all of the questions submitted at that meeting and will share the FAQ once it is complete.
• The Board will also be meeting this Tuesday (August 4). You can find the agenda and directions on how to watch the meeting on our website. 
• Families are encouraged to apply for free school meals. Everyone should apply because it helps your family save time and money, increases your school education funding, and it can help your community qualify to provide free meals for kids in the summer and after school. Many who apply are surprised that they qualify. This is a service that is available for ALL FAMILIES. 
• As a reminder: All families should have received a very important email that included a link to a supplemental student registration form. This is a quick turnaround (Friday, August 7 by 12 p.m.) on a very big decision, but the sooner that we have information on how many of our students are choosing hybrid or remote, the sooner we can efficiently and effectively prepare. If you did not receive this email, please contact the EWSD HelpDesk (helpdesk@ewsd.org). 
• You can find all updates that have been sent out over the summer and other information in regards to reopening schools this fall by visiting: www.ewsd.org/2020-2021

 

Read the latest updates from each of our EWSD Reopening Task Teams below. 

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

 

With gratitude,

 

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent 

===

 

Operations Task Team 

• Building access will continue to be limited until August 15 to allow for staff to ensure that buildings are ready for the school year. Facilities have increased the capacity of air handling systems and will be operating systems continuously for improved airflow. 
• Operations continue to work with the Technology, Transportation, and Child Nutrition departments to ensure a strong and safe start to the school year. 

 

Resource Task Team

• Diana Smith has been appointed as the EWSD School Nurse COVID-19 Coordinator.  Diana has been the school nurse at Founders for the last 14 years. We have decided to post for COVID-19 Response Assistants to assist the School Nurse COVID-19 Coordinator. They will provide other general COVID-19 related support. 
• The nurses are developing standards for general cleaning expectations for faculty and staff, the safety of eating in classrooms, as well as guidelines for when students and staff need to stay home or be sent home. We continue to work with Diana to determine guidelines for plexiglass in schools.  

 

Instructional Task Team

• In the hybrid model, K-8 students will have daily time to connect with their teachers regarding social-emotional learning, literacy, and math targets/proficiencies during their remote days.
• The Agency of Education has issued guidance around the minimum instructional hours by grade level whether remote or in person. We are following these guidelines when planning the hybrid and remote models of instruction. 

 

Communications/Stakeholder Task Team

• Developing recordings for translated messages to alert non-English speaking families when new updates are sent out from the District.
• Creating a FAQ to share with families and staff that includes questions that came up at the EWSD Board meeting on July 28, as well as other general questions. 

Dear Families and Staff,

Vermont Governor Phil Scott has signed a directive officially making Tuesday, September 8 as the universal reopening date for Vermont schools. The Essex Westford School District was previously scheduled to welcome students back on Thursday, August 27. 

The update adds that this new start date provides schools with an additional week for staff to prepare and test out systems – both online and in-person – built over the past few months. 

We will continue to update you as more information becomes available. Please remember that you can find all updates related to the 2020-2021 school year by visiting: www.ewsd.org/2020-2021

With gratitude,

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent 

If you have issues viewing the slides on your mobile device, you can access the presentation here. You can also watch the Board meeting online thanks to RETN. 

Dear EWSD Families and Staff,

With the hybrid instructional model now in place, our Leadership Team has been working around the clock to develop what this will look like for our families and staff as we reopen our schools this fall.  

All families should have received a very important email on Saturday that included a link to a supplemental student registration form. This is a quick turnaround (Friday, August 7 by 12 p.m.) on a very big decision, but the sooner that we have information on how many of our students are choosing hybrid or remote, the sooner we can efficiently and effectively prepare. If you did not receive this email, please contact the EWSD HelpDesk (helpdesk@ewsd.org). 

We understand that this is new for everyone and that you have many questions. With all of the information that the District has shared over the last few weeks, and knowing that the frequency will only increase as we continue to move forward, the EWSD has developed a website that will store all updates that you receive in one place, as well as useful links to help our families as we continue to navigate the effects of COVID-19. You can visit and bookmark this new site: www.ewsd.org/2020-2021

On Friday, Lynn Cota, Superintendent of Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union, and I had a chance to speak with the local media as part of a press conference on Zoom to discuss the Champlain Valley Superintendents Association’s plans for in-person and remote learning options for the start of the school year. You can view a recording of that press conference online. 

You can also read the latest updates from each of our EWSD Reopening Task Teams below. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

With gratitude,

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent 

===

Operations Task Team 

• EWSD Property Services is creating an in-depth/comprehensive inventory of all buildings so standard and socially distanced occupancy for each space may be used for planning
• Have also secured adequate initial supplies for cleaning and disinfecting classrooms/office and will be distributing those over the next few weeks
• EWSD Child Nutrition will distribute meals to be consumed in classrooms
• Curbside pick-up of meals will continue
• Asking families to consider completing the Free and Reduced Lunch Form for assistance as soon as possible
• Once student cohorts are finalized, EWSD Transportation will build routes and determine final bus schedules. It's anticipated that transportation details will not be final until the end of August.  

Resource Task Team

• Authorized the use of District funds and resources to create an online registration form (and other necessary supports) for parents and guardians to complete to identify whether their child will return to school in the hybrid model or select full remote learning
• Currently surveying staff to determine their ability to provide in-person instruction and other services to students to further inform the details of the hybrid model
• The District has received some guidance and information related to accessing State and Federal COVID relief funds. It is anticipated that additional Federal funding will become available as we near the beginning of the school year. 

Instructional Task Team

• In the hybrid model:
• Attendance will be taken in person and remotely, details will follow. 
• We intend to maintain the AM/PM schedule and rosters for PreK in person
• We are collecting feedback and input from teachers to develop schedules that support our essential standards and learning proficiencies
• Social emotional learning will remain a targeted area of learning and instruction

Communications/Stakeholder Task Team

• Provided updates to staff/families on the hybrid model that will be used to reopen schools
• Finalized the website (www.ewsd.org/2020-2021) that will be used to store all important updates for the 2020-2021 school year
• Developed the survey that went out to all families, which asked if they would prefer the hybrid or all remote option to start the school year
• Working on creating informational videos for families and students  

EWSD Superintendent Beth Cobb, along with Lynn Cota, Superintendent of Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union, had a chance to speak with the local media as part of a press conference on Zoom to discuss the Champlain Valley Superintendents Association’s plans for in-person and remote learning options for the start of the school year.

You can view a recording of that press conference online.   

Dear Families,

I am writing to provide you with an update on our plans to reopen our school buildings. To start the school year, the Essex Westford School District, along with many other local school districts, will implement a hybrid instruction model that will include both in-person and remote learning. 

This plan to return to school is student-centered, focused on social-emotional needs, and designed to keep our students learning at a high level. Most importantly, a hybrid model affords the ability to offer in-person learning in the safest environment possible while adhering to the best practices of the guidance issued by the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE). Here’s how the hybrid model will work:

• Students will be divided in half, creating two groups
• Groups of students will attend school in-person two days a week and learn remotely three days a week 
• For example, half will attend on Monday and Tuesday in person, and then learn remotely Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, while the other half will learn remotely Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and then take part in in-person learning on Thursday and Friday
• Students and staff attending in person will wear masks and practice physical distancing
• Groups will be thoughtfully created so they best support families, including grouping family members together whenever possible
• We are working on scheduling and will have that information to families as soon as possible
• Students will be learning remotely on Wednesdays. We will use this day to provide individualized support to students, engage in professional learning and planning for our staff, and deep clean our buildings.
• I understand that many of you wanted five days of in-person instruction, at this point, we are unable to provide this and stay within the health guidelines. However, we are working with partner childcare providers to see how we can offer opportunities for those that need help during your child’s remote days. Our hope is to do this at a limited cost for you. Please know, we are making this a priority and hoping we can make it work.

While we all agree that nothing compares to the benefits that students receive from in-person instruction, after extensively reviewing the AOE’s guidance and evaluating how to operationally implement those requirements and recommendations in our schools, reviewing survey submissions from our families and staff, and consulting with our reopening leadership committee, we feel the hybrid model will best address the health and safety of our students and staff given the current health data available. 

Having fewer students in the building at a time will help reduce contact with others and allow for improved distancing. The smaller groups will also allow teachers and staff more time to assess the academic progress and needs of our students. 

With fewer students in the building, we can better assist them adjust to new expectations while fostering healthy routines throughout the day, such as regular hand washing. In these pandemic conditions, it is also imperative that we continue to improve our remote systems so that we can be ready to adapt if health data requires a shift to full remote learning again.

We are also preparing to offer a remote-only/virtual learning option for families. More information regarding this option will be available soon. Within the next few days, you will receive additional information that will allow you to choose which model (hybrid or remote) you would prefer for your child(ren) to start the school year. 

We acknowledge the hardships that hybrid and full remote models may place on families, including our own faculty and staff. Although it will be a challenge, we have heard from many of our families that the hybrid (blended) learning environment is preferred. 

By working together, openly communicating, and being creative and flexible, we can overcome these challenges together. That said, please understand there are many moving pieces to these plans, and we will need to adapt as the situation surrounding COVID-19 evolves and we receive further guidance from the AOE and the Vermont Department of Health. 

Finally, in addition to academic work, I want to assure you that our teams will work tirelessly to support your child’s social and emotional needs through this transition. School is going to look and feel different this year, and we know all of our students will need support. We are here for your children and for your family.  

With gratitude,

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent

Dear EWSD Families,

 

The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) provided guidance on an instructional model for all schools in the state this past week. Our EWSD Leadership Team is currently in the process of working with that information to develop a safe and healthy return to schools for both our students and our staff on August 27, 2020. We will share more information with you on what this will look like in an email later this week.

 

Between now and then, you can read the latest updates from each of our EWSD Reopening Task Teams below as well as a list of what we already know going into the fall.

 

Instructional Task Team

• No matter what the instructional learning model is:

• Students will be provided with multiple opportunities and ways to demonstrate their learning

• Students will have daily opportunities for social-emotional learning and peer-to-peer connections

• Teachers will be available to provide instruction during the school day, and schedules will be designed to support flexibility as needed to maximize the health and safety of students and staff. This will include minimizing the number of transitions students will experience throughout the day where feasible.

 

Resource Task Team

• Determined it a priority to commit resources to a full-time, one-year School Nurse COVID Coordinator. This position will play a key role in helping the District prepare for and maintain a safe and healthy return.

• Agreed to assign budget resources to hire a group of COVID Response Assistants to help with a variety of needs that will be present in our schools when we reopen.

 

Operations Task Team

• Operations focused this week on the seamless delivery of meals by Child Nutrition Services that includes maximizing all opportunities within multiple frameworks of learning for the 2020-2021 school year.

 

Communications/Stakeholder Task Team

• Looking to create a video to help show safety precautions/measures for when students return

• Discussed ways to better reach families needing translation

• Developing a FAQ for families and staff

• Continued to work on a webpage that would act as the hub for all new updates

===

The AOE and Vermont Department of Health has provided the following as part of guidance on A Strong and Healthy Start:

 

• All staff and students will be required to wear facial coverings while in the school buildings, as well as outside where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Students who have a medical or behavioral reason for not wearing a facial covering should not be required to wear one and those decisions should be made in partnership with the health care provider and school nurse. Facial coverings may be removed during outdoor activities where students and staff can maintain physical distancing and have ready access to put them back as needed when activity stops. The use of clear facial shields for students and adults is allowable as long as they meet all of the health guidance of the Vermont Department of Health.

• Establish a COVID-19 Coordinator to establish, review, and implement health and safety protocols.

• All employees, including those already working, must complete a mandatory training on COVID-19 health and safety requirements

• All students and staff must have a daily health check at the first point of contact, where they will be asked COVID-related questions and have a temperature screening conducted

• If there is a case(s) of COVID in one of our schools, decisions about closure will be made based on guidance from the Agency of Education

• All students, staff, and contracted service providers should engage in hand hygiene multiple times per day

• Students are required to stay in an assigned section of the school yard as opposed to mingling with other classes

• Communal spaces such as gymnasiums and cafeterias should be closed for their intended use; these spaces, however, may be used as an extension of the classroom to allow for physical distancing

• The use of lockers and locker rooms will be prohibited.

• No outside visitors or volunteers will be allowed except for employees or contracted service providers for the purpose of special education or required support services, as authorized by the school or district

• Schools will coordinate with families, school staff, and community and State resources to assess and assist in the psychological and emotional recovery of staff and students

 

 

With gratitude,

 

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent

Dear EWSD Families,

During this COVID-19 public health emergency and prior to the restart of our instructional school year, the Essex Westford School District must limit open access to its facilities to ensure the safety of its workforce, and by extension their families, and our communities as a whole. These restrictions come out of an abundance of caution and are intended to allow the District to focus on a strong and healthy start to the next school year. 

General access to buildings during this COVID-19 public health emergency, and prior to the restart of our instructional school year, is limited to EWSD essential workers and community partners offering school-age programming to our students and families. Otherwise, all EWSD facilities will be unavailable to families and the community members until further notice.

If the circumstances warrant, curbside pick-up or drop-off of materials can be arranged by appointment only. In extreme cases, where critical needs cannot be met electronically, virtually, or by curbside pickup/dropoff, in-person appointment or access can be arranged with at least 48 hours advance notice. 

In all cases, anyone accessing an EWSD facility must strictly adhere to the district’s COVID-19 Program and Exposure Control Plan which can be found on the EWSD website.

Dear EWSD Families,

 

The Essex Westford School District (EWSD), along with all public school districts in the nation, is facing unprecedented times during this public health crisis. It will be imperative for the health and safety of our students, staff, and community that we have sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), disinfectant spray & wipes, hand sanitizer, and other materials necessary to respond and control the virus.

For that purpose, the EWSD is embarking on a centralized purchasing process for select items. With our Property Services Department leading the way, the new system will be a central access point for nurses, administrative office staff, department leaders, and others to secure necessary goods and materials to promote health and keep our school facilities safe.

Some of the significant advantages of centralized purchasing are:

• Economies of scale resulting from the pooling and integrated overall planning of the routine requirements of multiple departments.

• Development of standard specifications for the goods and materials to be purchased, resulting in more uniform quality across the entire district.

• Reduction in inventories because of closer supervision regarding the number of materials on each purchase order and greater utilization of the available supply of materials through transfers and substitutions.

• Better and more responsive reordering and potentially improved delivery times.

This approach has already been met with success. EWSD Property Services recently processed 9,600 lbs (six pallets!) of new personal protective equipment, including face masks that were ordered in recent weeks. We are working hard to build an inventory of these valuable items to distribute to our schools as we prepare for safe reopening in the fall.

In anticipation of the need for quick access to cleaning materials, Property Services is also providing COVID Carry Caddies with a starter supply of cleaning materials, hand sanitizer, and masks. This is a new program that will grow over time as the District does its very best to procure and distribute needed PPE throughout the EWSD.

07.10.20 EWSD Reopening Family Survey - Input/Feedback Needed

Dear Families, 

A Thoughtexchange was sent to each family in the Essex Westford School District to ask for feedback on the following question:

“What’s on the top of your hearts and minds as we plan for a safe return to school?”

We had 1,949 parents participate, offering 2,582 total thoughts, and 65,991 ratings. You can read the full results from the Thoughtexchange here.

 Please know that our number one priority is to ensure the health and safety of our students, staff, and the larger community as we continue to plan for equitable access to learning this fall. This was evident as well in the comments and thoughts from parents and staff alike.

Our district is following the guidance of the Vermont Department of Health, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Vermont Agency of Education as we prepare for the many possible return to school scenarios.

One of the items that surfaced from the parent Thoughtexchange was around the wearing of facemasks. Following the Agency of Education and Vermont Department of Health guidance, facemasks/face shields will be required this fall for all students and staff, unless there is a medical reason that is provided. 

We greatly appreciate your feedback in supporting our collaborative efforts to ensure the health and education of the entire EWSD community. Please be on the lookout for a survey coming out in the next week for families with more in-depth questions around topics such as remote learning, transportation, etc.

With gratitude,

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent

Dear EWSD Families,

 

This will be the first of many updates that you receive from the District over the next two months, as we look to keep you informed and engaged with how school will look when we return on Thursday, August 27, 2020. Within these communications, we will update you on what we know, what we are working on, and any changes that take place either within our system or at the state/national level.

 

The EWSD is in the process of creating a reopening plan that will be flexible and able to respond to changing COVID-19 variables. Our district leaders and principals will be working collaboratively throughout the summer to create a plan that is focused on the health and safety of our students, staff, and community at large. We will have decisions finalized and a plan in place by early August.

 

We will also be using the guidelines (‘A Strong and Healthy Start - Safety and Health Guidance for Reopening Schools, Fall 2020’) that were developed by the Vermont Agency of Education and the Vermont Department of Health and shared on June 17 as a resource in our planning efforts.

 

The EWSD leadership team meets weekly, but we have also broken out into four task teams (resources, instructional, operations, and stakeholders/communications) to dive deeper into some of the possible scenarios for what school will look like to kick off this fall:

 

1. Modified - Schools open with changes including social distancing, alternate schedules, and maybe even modified capacity

2. Remote Learning - At any point in the year, due to public health concerns, students may be required to learn remotely (e.g. spring 2020). We may need to close for a time period due to outbreaks even if it is for two weeks, we will be ready with remote learning.

3. Hybrid/Blended - Teaching and learning with some students at home and some in school. This may be in effect if we have large numbers of students having to quarantine or due to other health issues that require them to learn from home.

 

The District will look to gather input from all stakeholders to inform our plan and we will communicate weekly as this develops. In the meantime, you can help by sharing your thoughts taking part in this Thoughtexchange that was sent out yesterday.

 

We greatly appreciate your feedback to support our collaborative efforts to ensure the health and education of the entire EWSD community.

 

With gratitude,

 

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent