New horizons

As many young Vermonters prepare to graduate from high school this week, the very schools they are leaving behind also face new horizons amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

That change starts with fall 2020, when in-person instruction will continue under state guidelines that will be released next week for the K-12 system. When Vermont schools open up, staff will be required to wear facial coverings, state officials announced Wednesday. All students and staff will undergo daily health checks upon arrival, which will include a series of questions and temperature checks. Students will be encouraged to wear facial coverings. 

The guidance will also outline procedures the state can take in case of an outbreak, including possible school closures. Officials are exploring ways to improve remote learning capabilities in case that is needed, state Secretary of Education Dan French said at the Wednesday briefing. 

“We see this guidance as foundational to the other planning we need to undertake to reopen schools,” French said. The next step will include engaging with students, parents and community members to gather feedback, he added. 

As the state continues down the road of reopening schools, there will be constant reminders that everything has been impacted by COVID-19. Every decision carries some extra weight for that reason. However, it’s interesting to ponder whether the last couple months yielded some new ideas about the internet and education delivery. Perhaps interactive online collaboration with outside experts will be a bigger part of the classroom, for example. Students working with their peers from other campuses via Zoom could have potential as well.

However, it’s clear the number-one task now is safely getting the doors open again, within a plan that provides the educational opportunities children need. To accomplish that all-important goal, constant collaboration between the state and education stakeholders will be crucial to resolving issues along the way. 

As Gov. Phil Scott said, “We need to get through these issues together, because we know how vital it is for our kids and their development to move forward and reopen.”

— Gareth Henderson