Dear Springfield School District families and staff,
As we are on the cusp of heading into the vacation week, I want to give you a quick update on a change in travel guidance for Vermonters. There has been a bevy of new COVID information this week.
First, Governor Scott announced new reopening plans for the state as a whole. Second, the Agency of Education released updated school guidance yesterday afternoon. While there will be multiple ways that these changes will alter our operations, the most immediate is that the travel guidelines I gave you last week have been modified.
Under the new plan, the quarantine associated with travel outside the state of Vermont for unvaccinated people has been lifted. This means that unvaccinated Vermonters can travel outside the state and that they do not have to quarantine - as long as they are tested within three days of their return to the state. Unvaccinated people do not have to quarantine while the test results are pending but should monitor themselves for any COVID symptoms.
This is obviously a big change, but please keep in mind that both the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still do not encourage travel for nonessential purposes. Masking, social distancing, and gathering guidance should still be maintained. There will be more information coming from us soon regarding the updated changes from the Agency of Education and the Vermont Department of Health. Thank you for your continued patience while these documents are reviewed and decisions for the district are made.
I hope that you and your families have a relaxing and recharging week.
Respectfully,
Dr. Zach McLaughlin
Superintendent of Schools