March 2, 2020
Dear Students, Parents, Faculty, and Staff,
We look forward to welcoming everyone back from break. School will be open on Wednesday as planned.
In the Burlington School District, the health, safety, and well-being of our students and staff are our top priorities. I want to share that we are proceeding with an abundance of caution regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
As this is a rapidly changing situation, I have established a District Health Team tasked with looking at on-going actions and communication regarding coronavirus. We will continue to work closely with public health officials at the local and state levels to monitor the spread of the virus.
BSD has been in contact with the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) who has been monitoring the situation closely with the Department of Health. In an update memo on Friday, February 28th, the AOE provided the following suggestions and guidance:
“Many of the precautions that help prevent other respiratory diseases, like colds and the flu, can also help keep an illness like COVID-19 from spreading:
✔ Frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. (Don’t forget thumbs and in between your fingers.)
✔ Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
✔ Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
✔ Cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeve or a tissue. Throw the tissue in the trash.
✔ Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
✔ Stay home when you are sick.”
Going forward, we will assemble a Q & A for questions that come in and provide regular updates including one later this week. In the meantime, please visit the Vermont Department of Health’s COVID-19 website or dial 2-1-1 for more information.
Thank you for reading.
Superintendent Obeng
