State: In-person learning on the rise in Vt. schools

The American flag flies at Woodstock Union High School & Middle School last summer. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

Citing another positive impact from declining COVID-19 case totals in Vermont, state officials are seeing more and more schools getting back to in-person instruction.

Last month, Woodstock Union High School increased its in-person instruction to four days a week, and this trend has continued statewide, according to Education Secretary Dan French. He hears “almost daily” from schools moving in that direction, the secretary said at a Friday press briefing. 

“I’m very pleased with the results we’ve seen so far, and now with the case counts coming down, I expect even more districts will be expanding their in-person opportunities,” French said. “I’m confident that we’ll end the year with more in-person than when we started.” 

Also this week, the Agency of Education clarified its spring sports guidance regarding masks being worn outside. For sports with low- to no-contact, such as tennis, track and field, baseball and softball, masks do not have to be worn outside if six-foot distancing can be maintained. For moderate- to close-contact sports, like lacrosse and ultimate frisbee, players must continue to wear masks at all times during practice and games.

As for the state’s vaccination efforts, nearly two-thirds of Vermonters over age 16 have now received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. Next week, the state hopes the CDC will grant emergency use approval for Pfizer doses to be given to children ages 12-15. Once approved, Vermonters in this age group will be able to go to any Pfizer vaccination site, and school-based sites will be set up for students. All those sites will also be open to the wider public.

On Friday, Gov. Phil Scott urged anyone who hasn’t signed up for vaccination, to do so — most notably those ages 18-30. If the state continues to hit its vaccination targets in the coming weeks, the goal of lifting all statewide restrictions by July 4 remains within reach, according to officials.

“Vaccines are our ticket out of this pandemic, but it’s going to take everyone’s buy-in, especially younger Vermonters,” Scott said. 

Vermont’s COVID caseload is still trending well under 100 cases per day, and its 7-day case rate remains lower than the national average. The statewide positivity rate is 1.2%.

— Gareth Henderson

To view the status of public school reopenings statewide, check out this map.