Momentous weeks on the horizon

The mountains are painted with light and shadow in this view from Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The next couple of weeks will be important ones for many states, especially with the reopening of schools. But many other factors are in the mix as well. 

In Vermont, we have the return of the Legislature on Tuesday, and then schools reopen on Sept. 8. All this comes amid a swirling national political environment, stoked by the concerns around the USPS and the run-up to the November general election. Even so, the local scene here in the Green Mountains keeps moving forward. 

On the good news front: Vermont continues to have the lowest COVID-19 positivity rate in the country, which is one of the reasons the state proceeded steadily this summer on school reopening guidance. Most school districts in Vermont are implementing hybrid plans that blend remote and in-person learning, but the details vary district to district. So far, COVID-19 data, coupled with the state's testing and contact tracing capabilities, still shows it's safe to return to some level of in-person learning, state officials say.

By now, the Legislature, the schools, towns and all organizations know that plans can change quickly these days. And so, one has to be nimble, monitor the situation on the ground closely and prepare to make quick changes if needed. Working together, our Vermont schools and communities can meet this challenging time and keep moving forward, so that fall 2020 will be remembered as a time of great accomplishment. We have the ability to find — and hold onto — that success as a statewide community working toward a common purpose. We’ve come this far, and even amid adversity, we’ve paved the way together for more progress.

— Gareth Henderson