Important Upcoming Dates:
- Find the WSD’s updated school calendar here.
- February 3 at 6:15pm – Budget Presentation on CCTV
- Staff Surveillance COVID Testing – February 3, 10am-1pm
- February 3 and February 10 from 9-10am – VT Foodbank at WSD with Veggie VanGo
- February 22 through 26 – No School
Dear WSD Families and Staff,
I am very happy to report that our staff and students are doing a great job at picking up where they left off with our virus mitigation strategies and are so happy to be back together as a learning community! We have been struggling with staffing issues at JFK and continue to search for solutions so we can remain open for in-person instruction as much as possible.
Since last week there has been one positive case of COVID-19 reported to the COVID-19 Coordinators, however, the individual was not in school while infectious and therefore no line list was necessary. Within our learning community, one individual is in isolation as a result of a positive COVID test, and 16 people are in quarantine, waiting for test results.
Positive cases are steadily declining among the broader Winooski community as well. Last week (1/17 – 1/23), there were 10 individuals who tested positive from four unique addresses. The number of unique addresses is important to note because it shows that the virus spread is contained within a smaller group of people living together at the same address. This is the lowest positive rate during a full week of testing since mid-November. Rates of positive cases in Chittenden County also appear to be slowly declining, with only 17 new cases yesterday, the lowest rate in over three weeks. Read more about county-level case information here.
We want to continue with our in-person/hybrid learning model as much as possible and are grateful for your continued efforts to keep everyone safe. Please call the WSD COVID-19 Hotline at 802-556-2243 with any questions about the vaccine, health and safety issues, etc.
Vaccine Information
Vaccines are here! This is our shot, Vermont.
It’s official—the public COVID-19 vaccine rollout is underway in Vermont. Wondering when you’ll be eligible to get vaccinated, and what to do when you are? Keep an eye on the website HealthVermont.gov/OurShotVT for the latest on vaccines and who’s eligible to get vaccinated.
When the time comes, getting your shot is easy and free for all Vermont adults. You can sign up online or by phone and vaccine clinics are conveniently located around the state. The more people who get vaccinated, the faster the pandemic will end and we can get back to normal.
We will be continuing to advocate for school staff to be pushed up the vaccination priority list after Vermonters ages 60 and older have been served.
Learn about next school year’s budget
On January 13, the Winooski School Board approved a budget of $19,516,240 for fiscal year 2022. This represents a spending increase of 2.69% over the current year’s budget. The state formula calculates this to an estimated 6.68% tax increase. Approval by voters would allow the school board and administrators to continue providing high-quality instruction that ensures all students graduate from WSD college and career ready. Learn more about the WSD school board’s proposed investment in Winooski students for the 2021-22 school year.
Please join board members Mike Decarreau and Alex Yin on Wednesday, February 3 at 6:15 pm for a budget presentation. The link can be found at bit.ly/CCTVWinooski
Early voting begins on February 10. Read more about early and absentee voting and registering to vote here.
Basketball updates
Due to the pandemic, there will be no spectators at Winooski basketball games this season, however, we are working on a plan to live broadcast Varsity and JV games and record middle school games on our district YouTube channel: bit.ly/VideosWSD. Stay tuned for details.
Student Meal Kits (Make it part of your routine!)
Even though the district has moved back to the hybrid/in-person learning model, student meal kits will still be available on Wednesdays!
Our staff invest lots of time, effort, and care into creating our student meal kits. They also plan the next week’s meals based on current participation. When there is a drop in numbers, fewer meals are prepared for the following week. Then, the next week if demand increases, there might not be enough meals available. Please plan to pick up meals every week.
- When: Distribution is Wednesdays from 9-10am
- Who: Any student (or their adult)
- What: Meals kits which include five days worth of breakfast and lunch for each student
- Where: The meal pick-up sites remain the same, WSD, O’Brien Community Center, Elm Street Family Center
Thank you,
Sean McMannon, Superintendent