Sept. 24, 2021
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We have had a quieter week with no positive cases as of Thursday this week. Thank you to all who quarantined as close contacts to positive cases in the schools last week. It makes a difference. Please do remind your child (esp. older adolescents) to keep their mouth and nose fully covered with their mask when indoors at all times. Thank you.
This email includes:
School Safety Hotline
Vaccination Verification Request
Board Meetings
SCHOOL SAFETY HOTLINE
All Vermonters now have access to a new anonymous school safety tip line. The purpose of this tip line is to enhance school safety and security by providing students, faculty, staff and members of the community with a tool to report concerning behaviors that may have a negative impact on our schools. These tips will assist law enforcement, human service providers and school administrators in identifying school threats and coordinating assistance to students and families for services not needing an immediate response.
Submitted tips will be received 24 hours a day/7 days a week and will be assessed to determine if an immediate action from law enforcement or other first responders is needed. Tips that are determined to not need immediate attention, will be directed to VT 211 (United Way) and/or appropriate school officials for additional services.
Any student, parent/guardian, educator or member of the community can utilize this tip line at no cost. All tips are anonymous.
There are three ways to submit a tip:
Go to www.SAFE4VT.org and click on “Submit a Tip”, then fill out the form with your information.
Dial (844) SAFE4VT or (844) 723-3488 and speak with a call taker.
Send a text to 274637, type in keyword SAFE4VT and then your tip
Please share this information far and wide. Thank you.
VACCINATION VERIFICATION REQUEST
Attached to this email is a letter from Otter Valley and Barstow school nurses asking parents to voluntarily provide a copy of vaccination cards for any student age 12 and above who has been vaccinated. This information is optional for parents to provide; however having the information will help us know who needs to quarantine in the case of a positive case. It also will help us know when the school might reach the 80% vaccination of eligible students goal that may allow us to relax the mask mandate. Please consider sharing this information with your school nurse. It becomes a part of the child’s health record, which is HIPAA protected for your privacy.
SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
In August, Board meetings returned to in-person meetings with a zoom option for those who wish to attend virtually. Meeting information can be found on the district calendar or on the district website, www.rnesu.org,
OVUU Board meets Oct. 5, 6 pm @ OVUHS
BUU Board meets Oct. 18, 6 pm.
RNESU Board meets Oct. 20, 5 pm @ OV North Campus
Enjoy the weekend. See you next week!
Sincerely,
Jeanné Collins, Superintendent of RNESU
RUTLAND NORTHEAST SUPERVISORY UNION
49 Court Drive, Brandon, Vermont 05733
802.247.5757 – www.rnesu.org
...dedicated to the development of character, competence, creativity and community.
Sept. 17, 2021
Dear Otter Valley and Barstow Families,
We are asking parents of all students age 12 and up to notify us of your child’s COVID vaccination status by providing the school nurse a copy of their COVID vaccination card. If you have already done so, we thank you for this information.
School districts are permitted by law to request that parents voluntarily disclose their student’s vaccination status to assist with the implementation of pandemic precautions. You may opt to not disclose this information. If you decline to provide the school with your child’s vaccination status, your child will be counted as not-vaccinated.
Understanding the accurate percentage of vaccinated students at Otter Valley and Barstow is critical to knowing when we meet the 80% threshold, when we may be able to no longer require masks. It is also important to know this information for contact tracing when we have a positive case in the school. If your child is fully vaccinated and has no symptoms, they will not need to quarantine due to an exposure. I greatly appreciate your help and support in getting this information to us, as the school nurse.
You may mail, email, fax or have your child bring us a copy of their COVID vaccination record. This copy and the dates, will become a part of their health record, which only the school nurse has access to. This request pertains to all eligible students, currently ages 12 and up. If you have any questions please reach out to us.
Christine Spotts, BSN, RN
School Nurse OVUMHS Grades 7 - 12
802-247-6833 X2647
FAX # 802-247-4627
Claire Brosnan, BSN, RN
School Nurse Barstow Memorial School
802-773-6926 X2522
Fax # 802-747-4814
cbrosnan@rnesu.org